England's squad for the Ashes may contain a number of players under an injury cloud but Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has warned his team not to be deceived by claims that the Poms are unfit and underdone.
Andrew Flintoff (ankle), Ashley Giles (hip), Marcus Trescothick (stress), James Anderson (back), Liam Plunkett (side strain) and Steve Harmison (back) are all nursing injuries that might see them miss part, or all, of the much-anticipated Ashes series.
And swing bowler Matthew Hoggard suffered a minor abdominal strain playing for Yorkshire that will also see him on the sidelines for a couple of weeks.
"I wouldn't read too much into the injuries," Ponting told the Herald Sun.
"I think that might be a bit of their preparation. It might be how they are getting themselves ready by giving guys series off here and there. What they are doing is managing their squad as well as they can to make sure everyone is fresh and well for the Ashes."
Ponting added: "They've had a heavy schedule and if I was in their shoes, I'd be looking at ways and means of getting the squad as fit and fresh as possible."
England has had an arduous workload this year, playing seven Test matches since May, winning three and losing four.
Conversely, Australia's last Test was in April against Bangladesh and players were given the winter off.
The team has just started a one-day series against India and the West Indies in Malaysia and selectors have the luxury of rotating the 18-man squad to ensure players are well rested.
The selection of England's touring squad has caused a stir throughout the British press, with the Daily Telegraph referring to the ill-fated tour of 2003/2004 in which several English players made the trip injured and returned home without playing a Test, including recently named captain Andrew Flintoff.
"That episode turned the side in to a laughing stock" former all-rounder Derek Pringle told the paper.
"It was a decision that completely undermined England's quest for glory and (chairman of selectors David) Graveney claimed it would never be repeated," added former fast bowler Angus Fraser.
"However, it appears nothing has changed."