England have not won a series in Australia for 20 years and have been given little chance of winning this time despite their surprise victory at home last year.

But Flintoff, who was named player of the series in 2005, said his team's youth could work in their favour because they are not haunted by past defeats.

"A lot of the lads have not played a series in Australia before," Flintoff told a news conference after arriving in Sydney.

"So we've come here open-eyed looking forward to playing in different conditions against the best team in the world.

"They are not scarred by previous defeats. It's a very young side that wants to impress."

England picked a squad of 16 players for the five-match series and Flintoff said the team for the first Test, starting in Brisbane on November 23, was still undecided.

"One of the strengths of the team is competition for places in every department," he said.

"People have performed over the last few years and anyone in the squad can play in that first Test match.

"That's a nice position to be in and I'm sure over the next few weeks it will all unfold going into the first Test in Brisbane."

Flintoff said he was also confident that he was back to full fitness after undergoing ankle surgery and able to cope with the responsibilities of batting, bowling and skippering the side.

"My body is not a concern and I'm just going to go into the games and bowl as I normally do and get some miles in the legs," he said.

"I feel 100 per cent and the more I can play in the warm-up games here will show me that I'm in pretty good nick, so I'm pleased where I am at the moment."

England's opening match of the tour will be a one-dayer against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on Friday. They also play two three-day matches, against New South Wales and South Australia, before the first Test.