The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a special place, both for players and umpires alike. It's a magnificent stadium and the stands seem to reach the sky.

I would think there'll be a crowd of 90,000 plus on Boxing Day. The atmosphere is amazing and only the strong will survive.

England must be strong. Morale will be down after the bad defeat in the warm-up match in Hobart, but the coaches and management have got to lift the lads.

They've got to make them believe in themselves and tell them to go out there and enjoy it. But management can talk all day long, it's still up to the players when they get out to the middle.

There are two Test matches to play and the players must drum into themselves that if England win the next two games, everyone will be saying what a great side they are.

The side may have had a bad experience in Hobart, but I can't believe that professional players would throw the towel in. There's a lot to play for yet.

If only we had a Botham

Warren Hegg: Can make useful runs for England

England must go in there at Melbourne to attack, but team selection will not be an easy job.

The all-rounder position is crucial in any successful side and we've never filled Ian Botham's boots.

I'd like to see Ben Hollioake in there as the all-rounder, but on this occasion I think England should play Warren Hegg as a specialist wicket-keeper instead and allow Alec Stewart to open the batting.

Warren Hegg is a tremendous competitor. He's a good wicket-keeper and he'll be able to get runs for England as well.

It will be a great thrill for him to make his Test debut. To wear the Three Lions on your chest is a great honour and I don't think he'll let England down.

That's very generous coming from a Yorkshireman when talking about a Lancastrian!

If Stewart opens, I would play Mark Butcher at three, leaving a straight choice between John Crawley and Graeme Hick.

I would play Crawley. I've said many times that he was the best English player I saw last summer and I can't understand why he hasn't got runs in Australia. He is probably trying too hard, but he must keeping believing in himself.

Darren Gough: England need some seasonal cheer from him

The selectors may well stick with Darren Gough, Dean Headley, Alan Mullally and Peter Such as the bowling attack.

But I think Alex Tudor should be brought back instead of Headley. We have got to give him all the encouragement possible because if he stays fit, he is the man to spearhead England's attack in the future.

I'm very disappointed for Angus Fraser because he's a tremendous, 100 per cent trier. Over the last 12 months he has bowled magnificently, but now I think he is getting towards the end of his career and he has lost that little bit of nip.

Knowing Gus, however, he'll probably come back and prove me wrong next summer.

Lehmann's top class

Darren Lehmann: A top-notch replacement

The Aussies have brought in Darren Lehmann instead of Ricky Ponting and his left-handedness will break up the line of the England attack.

He lets the ball come to him, picks the line and length very quickly and plays it late - all signs of a really high-class player.

Mark Waugh has got plenty on his mind at the moment and they have plenty of options with Matthew Elliott, Greg Blewett and Michael Bevan waiting to step in.

Mark is not in his best form but he's such a quality batsman, you've got to play him.

It's not all gloom

It is not too late for England to come out of this series with their heads held high. But even if we don't win the last two Tests, the wheel of fortune turns and England will come good again.

Alex Tudor has outstanding potential and there are other young players around who could come to the fore. Michael Vaughan of Yorkshire and Darren Maddy and Ben Smith of Leicestershire could all force their way in through weight of runs over the next couple of seasons.

I'm going to have a busy time in Melbourne, I'll be guiding a tour party around and I've one or two radio and TV appearances to do.

But I'll be there every day to watch the game. The Australian Cricket Board will look after me and I'm looking forward to meeting some of my old friends - some of the great old Australian players like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Jeff Thomson.