Ashes newbies cool for Katich.

FORMER Durham batsman Simon Katich is confident Australia's new-look side can overcome the recent retirements of several modern legends to make an impact in this week's first npower Ashes Test.

The Australia opener, one of only four surviving members of the defeated 2005 Ashes side alongside captain Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee, is now one of the more experienced members of their line-up.

And Katich is confident the 2009 vintage have the ability to retain the Ashes during the coming weeks.

"The exciting thing from our point of view is that we have a batch of youngsters that are really keen to make their own Ashes history," he said.

"We've seen in the last six months that we have had a number of guys step up into their roles and have done very well for us - guys like Mitchell Johnson, Phil Hughes at the top of the order, Marcus North now and Peter Siddle.

"All these guys have come in and replaced the great players and are starting to make their own mark in Test cricket."

Opening partner Hughes, who averages an impressive 69.16 from his three Tests in South Africa, perhaps faces one of the biggest tests after having his confidence shaken during the recent match against England Lions by a short-pitched barrage from Steve Harmison.

Durham fast bowler Harmison will not be facing 20-year-old Hughes in Cardiff after being left out of England's first Test squad, but he can expect a similar response from players like Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff.

"The South Africans did that in South Africa and he had a lot of success there," said Katich. "The other day he got a couple of good balls and that happens at the top of the order. "He didn't do a huge amount wrong in the second innings - the ball just kept on coming back at him and I think he will sort out what he has to do to counter that."