Homework begins long before tour, says Clarke "That's part of the next four weeks ... to have a good look at the England team and work out their strengths and weaknesses": Clarke. This time, the Australians will definitely do their homework. With the on-field terrors and extracurricular errors of India a dusty memory, captain Michael Clarke said his squad would spend the next month studying their opponents for soft spots to exploit. "That's part of the next four weeks for me, as captain - and the rest of the players as well - to have a good look at the England team and work out their strengths and weaknesses," Clarke said. Perhaps he didn't want to reveal his knowledge of England's kryptonite, but former captain Mark Taylor did. "New Zealand showed in their series that [England] is like any other side," Taylor said of the 0-0 Test-series draw in New Zealand. They're a good team, England, don't get me wrong ... but they're not unbeatable, by any means. Taylor said England would gain from the return of Graeme Swann. "But, with all due respect, I don't see Graeme Swann as a Shane Warne," he said. He's a very good spin bowler, who's an excellent fielder and a good batter at about No.8. But I don't think he's Shane Warne with the ball. Swann missed the trip to New Zealand after surgery in early March to address a near-chronic elbow problem. Then there's Kevin Pietersen, whose dicky knee could spell trouble for England's batting line-up which, going by their most recent innings, features Ashes virgins Nick Compton, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. And they are saying Australia is a team of nobodies. Pietersen reckons he is on track for the Champions Trophy in June. But former England skipper Michael Vaughan, who knows plenty about dodgy knees, has said Pietersen must be managed carefully, whether or not he has surgery before the first Test, and may suffer a flare-up during the series. Swing bowler Tim Bresnan, who took 11 wickets in two Tests against Australia in 2010-11, had elbow surgery and missed the New Zealand tour. He's recovering well, but England would miss his control if his rehabilitation stumbles. Australian selector John Inverarity said he "wouldn't go into trying to identify weaknesses. It's cricket, 11 against 11," but Steve Waugh, as you would expect, said it like it was. "England have been up and down the last 12 to 18 months," Waugh said. They come off a pretty average tour of New Zealand, lost 3-0 to Pakistan, so their form hasn't been exemplary the last 12 months. I think if they lose someone like Swann or [James] Anderson out of their attack it's a big hole for them to fill. Echoed by Peter Siddle, in the tradition of Glenn McGrath. "Pietersen, Swann, Bresnan, three players that have played big roles in the last couple of series against us, are all out with reasonably long-term injuries that will take time to rehab," Siddle said. There is a bit of a worry there. Compton's a fresh player in, he's only played a handful of games. There is a lot to think about.