Cricket: WHIZZBANE; ASHES COUNTDOWN: SIX DAYS TO 1ST TEST IN BRISBANE Aussies pinning hopes on express route to victory.

Byline: Dean WILSON Cricket Correspondent

AUSTRALIA have kept to their word and named an express Ashes Test squad ready to bounce and bumper England all over Brisbane's Gabba.

The inclusion of pace merchants Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and all-rounder Shane Watson in their 13 shows a clear intention to try to batter England into submission.

It will be a case of fighting fire with fire, with Australia's speedsters up against England's quickies led by Steve Harmison and Freddie Flintoff.

There is no place for batsman and left-arm spinner Michael Clarke, nor for legspinner Stuart MacGill, who had been touted by former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh. Instead Ricky Ponting will have a fast-bowling armoury as loaded as any in history, but with the extra nous of bowling coach Troy Cooley behind them. Cooley was credited with building the devastating England attack that tore into the Australians in 2005, but is now back in his homeland - prompting fears the tables may be turned this time.

That is why the England batsmen have been cranking up the bowling machine in the nets to try to replicate the short-pitched barrage they have been promised.

With Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee guaranteed as new ball pair, it looks like coming down to a choice between Tait, Johnson and Clark for the final seamer spot.

Ponting said: "It's really exciting as far as I'm concerned to have that depth of fast bowling talent.

"Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark have all started this season extremely well and are all putting their hands up for selection.

"Shane Watson's cricket over the past 12 months has come along in leaps and bounds, he has a terrific record at first-class level with the bat and his bowling has really taken off, probably since Troy Cooley has been around the group.

"We have an experienced team going into this series but I think historically what you want in any team is a good mix of youth and experience and I think we've certainly got that."

If Australia go with Tait they will just about have the edge on the speed gun, with none of England's bowlers able to match him or Lee at their fastest. The likes of McGrath and Watson will be cancelled out by England's Matthew Hoggard and Jimmy Anderson, but it is the extra pace of Lee that could have the visiting batsmen hopping around Brisbane.

Tait is hoping to get the nod after learning from his mistakes in the last series when he made his debut at Nottingham.

Tait said: "I probably tried to bowl too fast at Trent Bridge, and if you go too hard against Flintoff, Pietersen and Strauss, these guys can tear you apart. But I feel much more physically fit than I have done in a long while and my aim is to bowl fast and bowl fast all game. I'm able to bowl faster for longer now."

The Aussie selectors kept faith with the ageing batsmen Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn for the first Test, which starts on Thursday. Langer, 37, was under pressure from Phil Jaques, but will be adding to his 100 caps.

CAPTION(S):

SPEEDSTERS: Flintoff and Lee' QUICK WORK: Speed merchant Shaun Tait has been called up by Australia' ASHES SPEEDOMETER: HOW PACE ACES MEASURE UP