Brisbane: Former Test great Allan Border rates the current Australian Test side as one of the best in cricket history.

Border, now a selector who helped choose the team that thrashed England at the weekend by 384 runs in the first Test, said he had suspected Australia would be too strong for the tourists.

"Even months ago I felt England would be competitive as long as all the stars turned up each day to play but you can't have hot and cold sessions against Australia - you fall behind the eight-ball and that's what happened," Border said on Tuesday.

"Australia has got a group of guys together now that are going to end up on the all- time great list."

Border believed there was still life left in the English team which, he suggested, should try to turn up the heat by attacking Australia.

"If they get the opportunity to bat first on a good day, take it, take Australia on and try and put runs on the board and put Australia under some pressure," he said.

"But it's going to be difficult for them because they've just taken a huge knock-out punch."

Border finished a walk from Sydney to Brisbane, which raised more than 100,000 Australian Dollars ($ 56,000) for children's charities.

Copyright AFP 2001

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