Thorpe eyes one-day Ashes boost

Thorpe with his commemorative bat for reaching 100 Test caps

Veteran England batsman Graham Thorpe believes the team can gain an important confidence boost ahead of the Ashes by winning the one-day triangular series.

England beat their old rivals by 100 runs in the one-off Twenty20 match and Thorpe said: "Any weaknesses that open up are good for the England side.

"England are playing some good cricket and the one-day series will be crucial for the confidence of the two sides."

He felt Australia's bowlers had not "hit their straps yet".

The Surrey left-hander had no doubts, however, that Ricky Ponting's side were merely acclimatising to the early season English conditions.

"Ricky's the sort of guy who'll crack the whip and get them in shape as soon as possible," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

Brett Lee has been a concern for the Australians with a troublesome shoulder, and Thorpe added that his absence would be felt by the tourists.

"He's a main strike bowler, the one they can turn to with extra pace, and he'd be a big blow," he said.