If one thing changes the rules of engagement in the 2009 Ashes, which start on Wednesday, it is that the aura of invincibility surrounding Australia for more than 15 years has disappeared.

Without their great champions — Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden — Australia are not the runaway leaders of world cricket, even if they remain tenacious fighters. For years, their opponents blinked away the sweat before battle and muttered: “We can’t match these guys. They have all the angles covered.”

This was the case in 2005, hence England’s faltering efforts in the first Test and the way they found the going so hard thereafter. Asked about that epic contest, England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, says: “What I take from 2005 is how hard it was to finish them off . . . maybe we didn’t have enough belief.”

Should England get on top this time, wavering belief should not be an issue. Strauss believes things are different now the “legends” have gone. “It’s a huge loss for any side — their experience, their ability, their presence on the park. Their replacements don’t have that aura about them.” Even though England have lost five Test series’ in eight, and a coach and captain in the past six months, they think Australia’s transitional state offers an opening. Chronically slow starters though England are, they hope to exploit that chance from the outset.

“If you want to play well against Australia you have got to take them on,” Strauss said. “Our players are certain they will go blow for blow. The first couple of games will be like the first rounds in a boxing match, both sides weighing each other up. It is important to grab momentum. A lot is going to depend on how we handle pressure and apply it. When we get them down we’ve got to nail them. The first morning is a time to be calm but it’s important we hit the ground running. I like the characters we have in the side. I don’t see any characters open to exploitation. That’s vital.”

In this context, “exploitation” is a euphemism for “mental disintegration” and probably explains why the likes of Steve Harmison and Ian Bell, who have wilted in earlier battles, may miss the starting XI.

After the punches he landed on Phil Hughes and Ricky Ponting in Worcester, Harmison is back in the mix, maybe even for the first Test in what would be a U-turn by the selectors after his exclusion from the initial 16-man squad. Today they will name 13 and the choice seems to be between him and Graham Onions. Bell may be named reserve batsman.

“We’ll make sure we’ve got enough cover batting and bowling-wise,” Strauss said. “It’s great to see him \ bowling with rhythm. It gives us options. We’d like to play five bowlers. We’re confident we have two very good spinners. I still have a huge amount of faith in Monty [Panesar].” Four seamers plus Graeme Swann remains likeliest.

The question is how comfortable Australia will feel playing on what has at long last become a level playing field. Perhaps living in the shadow of those retired greats puts them at a disadvantage. Talk that they are intent on making their own history is undermined by Gilchrist and McGrath being roped in to address the team during the warm-ups.

Asked his impression after sharing the field with them in Worcester, Harmison said: “They are nowhere near as confident as they were.” Even John Buchanan, their former coach, concedes that Australia’s confidence is “quite fragile”.

No wonder. They have lost five of their past 11 Tests decisively; of their past 18, they have been kept in the field for more than 110 overs on 13 occasions. Only four of their squad have played Tests in England. Such statistics would have been unthinkable in the glory years.

Only in the past few days has Australia’s starting XI fallen into place. Hopes that Nathan Hauritz would merit selection have foundered and not until his hundred on Friday did Marcus North justify his place. This may not be the crisis it seems: Australia did win two Tests in South Africa without a frontline spinner.