WARNE: AUSTRALIA LOOK CONFUSED

Leg-spin legend criticises selectors following the announcement of the first Test squad

Australia's selectors look confused and England are better placed ahead of the Ashes.

That's the damning verdict of Shane Warne, who on Friday questioned the method behind his country's cricketing decision-makers picking Tim Paine as wicketkeeper for the opening two matches of the most famous Test series of them all.

Paine, who hasn't been first choice for the gloves with his state side Tasmania, hasn't scored a first-class hundred in more than a decade and has been in the Test wilderness for seven years, is part of the 13-man squad for the games in Brisbane and Adelaide.

His selection has been the subject of heated debate in Australia and now Warne has waded in.

"England at the moment are just going along nicely," Warne said. "They’re just doing their business.

"Australia look confused. They’re picking wicketkeepers that aren’t even keeping for their state.

^{Tim Paine is in the Australia squad for the first two Ashes Tests}

"To me, I think England are in a better situation going into that first test than what Australia are."

Warne, who claimed 708 Test wickets during an illustrious playing career, is predicting a nail-biting seven weeks of action Down Under.

”Being at home, you think that Australia have an advantage,“ Warne added. ”But I think this will be a super close series.

“It comes down to the bowling mainly. I think Australia’s bowlers are excellent.”

The series gets under way on Thursday at the Gabba, prior to matches in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

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