Hussey expects England backlash

Mike Hussey is expecting England to be fired up by months of ridicule and disappointment and deliver their best performance of the series in the final Ashes Test.

The former Northamptonshire and Durham batsman is better qualified than most to predict just how much England's beaten Ashes squad are hurting as they prepare for the final Test in Sydney on January 2.

Hussey sad: "England are going to be desperate, they're not going to want to lose the series 5-0 and it's their last chance in Sydney. I'm sure they're going to put in a huge effort and we've got to be ready for that."

"Every Test match has been a challenge," added Hussey, the top run-scorer in the series with 421 runs at an impressive average of 105.25.

"I know we won the last Test in Melbourne very convincingly but there were certainly times when we were challenged. We were 84 for five at one stage so there have definitely been times when we've been challenged and that's been the case throughout the series.

"Brisbane was a very tough Test match as were Adelaide and Perth so I'm expecting a tough Test match."