Pressure is on Australia - Thorpe

Thorpe announced his retirement from England duty last month

Ex-England batsman Graham Thorpe says the pressure will be on Australia when the Ashes resume on 25 August.

The two sides will go into the fourth Test at Trent Bridge level at 1-1.

"I think England have matched them on a competitive level," said Thorpe, who said he had no regrets about quitting international cricket.

"I think Australia know that now, and the closer it gets that Australia can lose the Ashes, the more it will play on their minds."

It took some desperate defence from Australia's last pair to avoid defeat in the third Test at Old Trafford, and Thorpe has no doubt England will go into the last two Tests full of confidence.

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"England will feel they should have their noses in front and will feel they are playing good cricket," the 36-year-old Surrey batsman told BBC Radio Five Live.

"Why can't we go on and win?"

The fourth Test starts in Nottingham on 25 August and Thorpe has no doubt about which side has the momentum going into the game.

"I think England can go into the fourth Test buoyed by their performances already and are in a situation now where they have Australia on the rack," said Thorpe.

"England can go on and win both matches.

"This side has probably got a good four or five years, but Australia don't have that.

"This Australia side is the best they can put on the park, and they are at their peak.

"What is unusual is them talking about making changes - which I think shows which side is dominant."

Thorpe believes the England team have gone some way to meeting the challenge presented by Shane Warne, the game's leading Test wicket-taker.

"Before you get on top of Shane Warne you are often 2-0 down, but maybe that mystery has evaporated from the boys' minds.

"They have overcome certain things about Warne already - that he is an exceptional leg-spinner but not unplayable."

Thorpe, who earned 100 Test caps but never played in a winning Ashes side, retired from international cricket after being left out of the squad for the first Test at Lord's.

And he confirmed that he would not change his decision, even if the current side suffered an injury.

"England have got enough players in their pool - I have retired now, and that is it. Your life moves on," he said.

"The selectors have made their decision and they will be happy with the way things have gone - you can't argue."