MELBOURNE: Australia bowling coach Craig McDermott has boasted that the newly crowned Ashes winners have the most dangerous attack in world cricket as they focus on a fourth straight Test victory against demoralised England.
Pacemen Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle. supplemented by spinner Nathan Lyon, have dominated England's troubled batsmen, enabling the home side to race to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Former Test quick McDermott said on Monday he expects no changes to the Australia team for the fourth Test starting in Melbourne on Thursday.
"They've all performed as a unit fantastically well," McDermott said. "We have the best attack in the world at the moment."
He said the bowlers were nursing aches and pains but it was nothing serious.
Harris is having treatment on a sore knee, but McDermott said he was confident he will be ready for Melbourne.
"I wouldn't say there's any doubt, he's (Harris) just sore," he said.
In contrast, the unsettled tourists, who are trying to avoid the indignity of a 5-0 whitewash, suffered a fresh blow on Sunday when star off-spinner Graeme Swann announced his shock retirement.
"That's their problem, I suppose (Swann retiring). I'm more concerned about how our bowlers are preparing come Boxing Day," McDermott said.
Australian spinner Lyon said he admired Swann as a fellow off-spinner and had no doubt his absence would give Australia a boost for the remaining two Tests of the series.
"It's going to be a positive for Australia, but we still have to come out and pay respect to everyone that goes out there," Lyon said.
"I was shocked. He's someone I've looked up (to). He's probably been the backbone of England's attack for a while.
"I regard him as one of the best off-spinners I've seen.... I've certainly learnt a few things just off watching him and talking to him.
"He's been fantastic for England and for cricket, full stop."
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