Sydney: Steve Waugh says changing his team before the first Ashes Test would be playing into England's hands.

The Test captain said England would want Australian selectors to tinker with the team before the Ashes opener starting at Brisbane's Gabba Ground on November 7.

The future of Steve's twin brother, Mark, in the Australian team will be decided on Sunday when the national selectors deliberate over the players for the opening Ashes Test.

"The English will probably hope that we have a couple of changes in our side, but it really depends on what the selectors want and what they see as the future," Waugh said.

Waugh returned home late Friday from Australia's 3-0 Test series whitewash of Pakistan in Colombo and Sharjah. "But you can only win 3-0 when you play three Tests. I don't know how you can get better than that, there's always a need for fresh players I suppose and look for the future," he said.

"But I think when you are running a business and being successful you wouldn't just throw a couple of guys out and replace them for the sake of it. I think as a selector, if you think you can improve the side then improve it, if you don't think you can improve, don't."

There was speculation Steve Waugh's unbeaten century in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah not only cemented his spot in the Ashes series but also killed off the chances of his out-of-form brother, Mark.

The rationale was national selectors wouldn't want to drop both the experienced Waughs at once so therefore would first axe Mark, who averaged just 20 in Australia's thumping of Pakistan.

But Steve Waugh said he would not speculate before talking with chief national selector Trevor Hohns at the weekend about the make-up of the first Test team.

"I have heard some theories but that's about as silly as I have heard," said Waugh. "I'm not planning on going just yet and I don't think Mark is either. I think everyone's jumping to conclusions a little bit.

"We've had this the last 12 months – it would be nice to play a game of cricket without having these sorts of things hanging over your head. Australia is the best side in the world – it would be nice to celebrate that for a change."

With the pressure on Mark to hold his Test place, Steve Waugh acknowledged there were youngsters such as NSW batsman Michael Clarke – who hit his second Sheffield Shield century in as many matches on Friday – up to Test standard waiting in the wings.

"Clarke is a tremendous talent and I would think if he is scoring hundreds at domestic level he's ready for the next step." While enduring speculation over his team, Waugh said he wasn't taking notice of England's lacklustre start to the tour.

England was beaten by an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman's XI in a One-day match and outscored by a second-string Western Australia in a two-day game ending in a draw in Perth on Friday.

"You can't look too much into the pre-Test form, I'm sure they will be ready come the first day at the first Test at Brisbane," he said. "We've had good results in the last seven series but that doesn't mean we are going to win it.

"Back in '86 the England side came out here and it said it wasn't a great side and it beat us pretty convincingly. But I think the top three for England will be the key batsmen for us - Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher - targeting them will be the key for us."