Heatwave ahead of first Ashes Test in Nottingham bad news for Aussie bowlers but a boost for batsmen Darren Lehmann says not naming a team until just before the First Ashes Test will give his side a huge advantage. Australian opener Chris Rogers is familiar with the conditions at Trent Bridge. ENGLAND'S sudden heatwave is in danger of turning traditional theories of fast bowler friendly Trent Bridge on its head. This is disappointing news for Australia's high quality pace attack but shapes as an enormous boost to an uncertain batting line-up which has enjoyed flat and friendly conditions in the two warm-up matches. Temperatures soared into the high 20s over the weekend and are forecast to stay there for the whole week, threatening to dry out the pitch for the first Test, which starts on Wednesday. And just as importantly, a lack of cloud cover will greatly reduce the likelihood of the ball swinging at a venue which is renowned for its deviation. Even so, as white flesh was unveiled all over the country, England's selectors ignored their sweated brows, selecting five fast bowlers in a 13-man squad and just one spinner, Graeme Swann. Once again England's most enthusiastic cricketer, left arm spinner Monty Panesar, was ignored. Long term county warrior Chris Rogers, who will play just his second Test this week opening the batting, is bemused as to what impact the weather might have. "Traditionally it does a little bit early, but I've also found it to be quite a good batting wicket once you get in," he said. And with this weather there's a good chance it's going to be pretty flat. We'll just have to see what happens. England has a good recent record at Trent Bridge, winning five of seven Tests there since scrambling home by three wickets in the 2005 Ashes, the last time Australia played a Test at the ground. There is one glaring statistic the Australians will have surely noticed. England's most prolific batsman and captain, Alastair Cook, averages just 19.5 in six Tests at Trent Bridge and has never managed a half century there. It is by far his worst record at any of the nine grounds he has played Test cricket on in England. Next is Headingley, where he averages 42, while the best is Old Trafford, where his average is 62. All batsmen appear to struggle at Trent Bridge, with their performances at the ground well below career averages. And not surprisingly England's seamers have treated the venue as another Christmas. James Anderson has taken 39 wickets there in just six Tests at an average of under 18, Stuart Broad has 18 wickets at 21 in four Tests, Tim Bresnan 15 wickets at 16 in two Tests and Steven Finn five wickets at 16 in his only Test there. By contrast Swann, a world class off-spinner, has just three wickets at Trent Bridge from three Tests at an average of 65. This will also come at as a great relief to Australia's batsmen, with off-spinner Ravi Ashwin embarrassing many of them on the way to a 4-0 Indian clean sweep earlier this year. There were fears that Swan might do the same to Australia's left handers in particular on this tour by captain Michael Clarke claims the team has worked hard to overcome those deficiencies. "We've learnt a lot from India and we've prepared well to face, Swann, Pansear or any other spinner they might pick during this series," Clarke said.