Back-to-back Tests no problem - Buchanan

John Buchanan, the Australia coach, has no qualms about seeing his side's ageing attack involved in back-to-back Tests against England. Australia are 1-0 up after Lord's, but there is just a two-day gap scheduled between the second Test, which starts at Edgbaston on Thursday, and the third Test at Old Trafford.

Before this Ashes campaign got underway Matthew Hoggard, the England seamer, questioned whether the 35-year-olds Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne could stand up to the rigours of back-to-back games. The pair took 15 wickets between them at Lord's, a match where McGrath joined Warne as one of only four bowlers with 500 Test wickets.

McGrath's long-time new-ball partner Jason Gillespie is also the "wrong" side of 30, as is Michael Kasprowicz, his rival for a Test place, while Brett Lee is 28. By contrast the left-arm spinner Ashley Giles is the only frontline England bowler over 30.

"These next 14 days are pretty crucial to the whole tour," Buchanan said. "One of the aspects of playing back-to-back Test matches is the fitness and mental toughness of individuals in both teams. It's a pretty big issue. The weather will dictate that a bit. There's no doubt that a team that is fit and mentally strong will have some advantage by the end of these two games.

"Everybody will be tested if that's the case, particularly bowlers. But one of the strengths of our side has been we are able to front up game after game. I don't see at this point in time it being any different. If you're in a winning frame of mind, a confident frame of mind or you are playing well, that confidence aids your physical recovery and therefore also your mental strength.

"If England play as well as they can play, potentially I see a little bit of a rollercoaster ride. But if we play the way we know we can play over this period of time, and there are good signs that we will, then I would expect to come out certainly in front by the end of this 14-day period."

Buchanan refused to be drawn too deeply into commenting on the media storm surrounding Giles. The spinner hit back at his critics on Monday with a bizarre newspaper column where he demanded "more respect". "I'm not here to tell England how to cook their eggs," Buchanan said. "I don't know Ashley Giles and obviously there's been a lot of talk about him and from him in the lead-up to this Test match. We look at the way England unfold their strategy and he's one part of that."