Shane Warne holds the key to the Ashes series.

That's the view of former Australian seamer Rodney Hogg.

How the England middle order, containing the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones all in the first Test series against the Aussies, copes with the Hampshire skipper, pictured, will be fascinating.

"If Bell averages 30 at four in what is really his first series and Pietersen, Flintoff, and Jones also play well England have a show," Hogg said.

"The Shane Warne barrier will be interesting.

"He has a psychological advantage over England which is worth three wickets straight away.

"Do they try to attack him or sit back and allow him to control them?"

Hogg also believes Brett Lee will finally show to the rest of the world his true colours as a top-line paceman.

"Lee is at the most potent stage of his career as a paceman and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't go on and take 300 Test wickets," Hogg remarked.

"He is fast and fearsome when he bowls at the right length.

"He's also a magnificent athlete so I don't see any problem in him adding another 150-170 wickets in the next four or five years.

"He has 137 Test wickets to date so that will take him close to, or over, 300."

Hogg, who claimed 132 scalps in 38 Tests, believes Lee is the heir apparent to Glenn McGrath's crown.

"McGrath is going to capture his 500th wicket on the first morning of the first Test at Lord's," he said.

"In fact, I'd say it will happen in his first over, at about three minutes past 11."

Hogg also believes Jason Gillespie will win the tussle with good mate Michael Kasprowicz for the third pace spot.

"The Australian selectors may well decide to rotate those two throughout the series but they won't decide that until after the first Test.

"England's strength is in their pace attack.

"And in Andrew Flintoff they could have the new Ian Botham - the all-rounder they have been searching for in more than a decade."

Hogg also believes if any captain can steer England to victory it is Michael Vaughan.

"He's the perfect man for the heat of battle - the best skipper England has appointed since (Mike) Brearley," he outlined.