With more than six months to go for the much-awaited Ashes contest, spin wizard Shane Warne [Images] has put the heat on Michael Vaughan's [Images] side claiming it did not have what it takes to successfully defend the coveted urn.

Before leaving for England [Images] to represent Hampshire in county cricket, Warne said the Ashes winners lacked the necessary nerve and confidence and were way behind the world champions.

• Schedule: Ashes 2006-07

"For the first time, it will be us chasing England," Warne said.

"It's a different mindset. England will have to come out to Australia and have to try and retain the trophy. It's a different position for them to be in. I am not sure they like it," he was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun'.

"I think they like the position that they are underdogs and if they win, they win. You look at their form since Ashes series; they have won only one Test and have won three or four one-dayers," Test cricket's highest wicket-taker said.

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He also said England were not responding well to the pressure of being ranked the second best side in the world.

"It takes a bit of time to adapt. It's a different mindset when you approach the series and suddenly your own expectations, and everybody else's expectations, are that you are going to win," he added.

Since ending their long Ashes drought last year, England has lost a three-Test series in Pakistan 2-0 and drawn 1-1 in India while Australia won 11 of 12 Tests and used 21 players in a bid to find the right balance.