Mark Waugh wants Ashes shot

SYDNEY - Beleaguered Test batsman Mark Waugh says he is confident he can do well against England in the coming Ashes series if the Australian selectors give him the opportunity to play.

Waugh returned to Australia this morning with his position under continued scrutiny after averaging just 20 in the three-Test series against Pakistan.

But the middle order batsman believes he's playing as well as his brother, Test captain Steve, who scored a century in the final Test.

"I'm batting well enough. In the first Test, I let a good chance slip by there in making 55 and the Tests in Sharjah - they were pretty good batting wickets," Waugh said.

"I was a bit disappointed not to make runs, especially in the last Test but these things happen."

Asked if his form merited selection for the opening Ashes Test, Waugh replied: "you're asking the wrong person, I'm not a selector, I'm a player."

Fast bowler Brett Lee, whose position is also under fire after a lean series against Pakistan, said he was happy with the way he bowled in the final Test and it was just a matter of him being patient.

Meanwhile Australian one day captain Ricky Ponting said he expects England to be "cherry ripe" by the time the first Test in Brisbane starts in two weeks.

England lost its opening tour match by 58 runs to an ACB chairman's XI but Ponting believed they would improve considerably with a few more games.