Flying start from top bats is key to Ashes victory Top touch: George Bailey has had a brilliant series against India and is likely to play in the first Test against England at the Gabba. If Australia improves 15 per cent with the bat we can win the Ashes. First, selectors need to sort out who bats where and select guys who are in form. If the Australians put in a strong performance in the first Test at the Gabba, I believe they will go on to win the series. Despite Australia's one-day bowlers being savaged on flat tracks in India, the strength of the Australian Test team, with some key additions, is its bowling. There have been a few injuries, but it has the firepower to get 20 wickets. Don't forget, Australia still needs to field well. Our fielding is below par at times and a potential weakness. If we don't take our catches then we are in big trouble. There has been so much discussion about one-day international tours, Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield fixtures, but I think Cricket Australia has got it right. With the exception of George Bailey, every Test batsman will get at least two matches before the Gabba Test. All will get a chance to find out how much they want to play for Australia. I was curious to hear the comments made from John Inverarity, who pretty much said that the Test team has been already selected. That is OK, but I feel the selectors should not advise anyone of the Ashes squad. This admission by Inverarity has upset many state players who haven't had the chance to prove themselves over the next few weeks. I would have loved to see all the players believing they had a chance of being selected. I wanted to maintain the pressure on them, but the selectors feel otherwise. The only certainties in my mind are Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith. Even though David Warner had a terrific Ryobi Cup, I still think he needs to get at least one score leading up to the first Test. Even though Watson is back into some serious form, I am still not convinced with him at No.3. It is a difficult position to bat at the best of times and you must want to bat there. It is a spot that you badly want to own. I was gutted when Allan Border sacked me from No.3 and pushed me down the order. History has proven that maybe Border got it right when he replaced me with David Boon. In the past, Watson has got whatever he has wanted. If he is serious about batting No.3, he needs to bat there in the Sheffield Shield. Watson must feel that his career is on the line in this series. If he doesn't perform, the selectors will certainly look for other options. Clarke should bat at No.4. He has hit a lot of balls of late and he will be ready for battle. The No.5 spot will go to Smith. Even though he has got a funny backlift that looks a bit weird, Smith has impressed many with his mental toughness. This will be a huge series for him. So who gets the No.6 spot? Steve Waugh said to me that it is one of the hardest positions to bat. Many times you have to start your innings against a quality spinner or when the old ball is reversing. Also, you might come in when the second new ball is around. So you need to have a sound technique and mental toughness to cover many different situations. This position will go to Bailey. Usman Khawaja, Alex Doolan and Aaron Finch will have to wait. They just have to make some big runs, but they are no doubt on the radar. Even though Bailey had a poor Sheffield Shield season last year with only 258 runs, he is in the form of his life. He could have played the Indian bowlers with a pogo stick if he wanted. But I still feel Bailey needs to play a first-class match to prepare properly for this Ashes series. What has impressed us all is how he has got his runs. He has been simply brilliant. I really liked George the first time I met him. I have been so impressed with his leadership in India. He has been a positive leader who nips bad behaviour in the bud early and has great communication skills. Bailey doesn't seek media attention. He might look just an average player at times, but trust me, he has got some serious game. He is a quality person and is very well respected by the whole team. His brilliant captaincy in India has raised many eyebrows within Cricket Australia. He has given Australian selectors an option. With Bailey's form, don't be surprised if selectors name him vice-captain for the first Test. Bailey's recent captaincy success in India has no doubt put Clarke under a little pressure. If Australia gets beaten badly by England in this series, then the selectors might look to Bailey to lead in the future. Traditionally, Australia doesn't like to have multiple captains in various forms of the game and Bailey might be the perfect fit. But I did say "might." There was a similar near coup in 1987. Allan Border was put under similar pressure to Clarke, when he was told by the Australian Cricket Board chief executive that Dirk Wellham would be vice-captain for the fifth Test in Sydney in 1987. First, Border was furious that Boon was dropped for Wellham. And when told that Wellham was to be made vice-captain, AB flew into a rage that I hadn't seen before or since. Border made it clear that he wouldn't play if Wellham was named vice-captain. No vice-captain was named and we won the match. Sadly for Dirk, he didn't play for Australia again. History tells us that it was a timely prod from the Australian hierarchy. AB never looked back as a captain and later that year we won our first World Cup. Some people think that Clarke needs a little prod to remind him there might be other options for CA if things go bad. All captains come under scrutiny. One thing is certain, if Australia gets smashed in this Ashes series, England will have won four series in a row, which it hasn't done since 1890. And if it does, there will be blood spilt. On and off the ground. For free live scores and predictions from ProfDeano, download free app from profdeano.com or from iTunes.