In New Zealand in 2008 the then England coach Peter Moores made what he still admits now was a ‘big call.’

Having lost the first Test by 189 runs in Hamilton, Macclesfield-born Moores, pictured, axed Ashes heroes Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, and brought in Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.

And in that one move, he began a new era in England’s Test team.

It is a move that is still paying dividends now – long after Moores swapped the three lions for Lancashire’s Red Rose.

Broad and Anderson are both crucial to the England side which, at Trent Bridge today, begin an Ashes series they are expected to dominate.

Lancashire pace bowler Anderson goes into battle against the old enemy with 307 Test wickets to his name. That’s more than any other

Lancastrian and behind just Bob Willis and Sir Ian Botham in England’s all-time list.

He is regarded by most as the best swing bowler in the world, and is the member of England’s attack the Aussies fear most.

And although that decision five years ago raised some eyebrows, it helped England win the series 2-1 as Anderson took 5-73 in that second Test at Wellington. And it set the side off in a direction which ultimately saw them become the best Test team in the world and win Ashes series home and away.

“It was a big change at the time,” said Lancashire coach Moores. “They were tough decisions on Harmison and Hoggard, but I always thought Jimmy was a great bowler because he had good pace and he swung the ball.

“Since then Jimmy has grown from being a good bowler to a leading bowler who takes responsibility. He can bowl in different situations. He has played in the sub-continent and found ways to overcome that.

“As you get more skilful it means that whatever conditions he faces in England Jimmy will have a plan because he has been successful in different countries. He is very consistent. Not many things phase him. He can bowl a bad over or be slightly out of rhythm and still come back at you.

“He has options whether it swings or it doesn’t, and he has a great economy rate, so he is always creating pressure even if he is not taking wickets.

“He works very hard and is very disciplined and he has got to the point of his career where he has become low maintenance. He knows what to expect, how to prepare and as a coach you can leave him to his own devices.

“There is a real trust there and other players feed off that – the comfort that there are players around them who are experienced and know what to expect.

“Jimmy is in a good place. He is at the peak of his powers.”

Moores never got to take charge of England in an Ashes series as he was axed just months before the 2009 visit of the Aussies.

But his stamp is still evident on the current England team. As well as reinstating Anderson and Broad, he brought in Jonathan Trott, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann. And he also added current England coach Andy Flower to his backroom staff.

And Moores believes his former charges and his good friend Flower will just be too good for the Aussies, even despite Australia axing Mickey Arthur as coach and bringing in Darren Lehmann.

“I think England will win 3-1,” he said, without pausing to deliberate it. “They have too many players at the peak of their powers right now.

“Australia are a good team, so England will have to play really well. And that’s the beauty of sport. In 2005 who thought England would win?

“How the top three play in both sides will be important, because it sets the tone. How the opening bowlers perform will also be important and England have Anderson who is the standout bowler from both sides, so that is another plus point for them.

“Australia will be hoping some of their younger seamers – who are very talented – find the right lengths in England very quickly.

“Bringing in Lehmann is a really proactive move by

Australia. I feel for Mickey, but there was obviously something not right so they decided to make a change before the Ashes. And I think it will have an impact on the series.

“Lehman has been part of the Aussie system, a lot of their players will know him and the switch seems to have gone down well with the players.

“As a coach you try and take pressure off your players and allow them to play their game, which is what Lehmann will be trying to do. He will want them to go out and express themselves as players.

“He will want them to get stuck in and have a good go.

“And Trent Bridge isn’t a bad starting place for them. Although it swings, it is not a big spinner’s pitch.

“But on home soil, and with Alastair Cook, Prior, Anderson, Swann and Trott all at the peak of their game, England will simply be too strong.

“Andy Flower has his main players fit and can choose the side he wants. He will go into the first Test very confident.”

England are such overwhelming favourites, Sir Ian Botham has tipped them to beat the Aussies 5-0 both in this series and the one which follows this winter Down Under.

“The key will be not to be complacent – and they won’t be,” said Moores.

“Australia come into the series under the radar a little. The bowling attack is very talented but they need to get momentum and England have to stop that happening.

“There will be a lot riding on this first game because they won’t want to give Australia any hope, they will want to put them under pressure right from the start of the series because being successful is always more difficult when you play under pressure.”

Moores hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with Kevin Pietersen, whose actions cost him his job as England coach in 2009. However, he knows how key his return to fitness after knee surgery will be to their Ashes hopes.

“Having him back is a huge boost for England,” said Moores. “Both sides are similar in that their two key players – Pietersen and Michael Clarke – have both been out with injuries but have both come back and scored hundreds just before the Ashes.

“Both will now go to Trent Bridge feeling confident.

“The danger for Australia with KP is the speed he can score at. He can take a game away from you really quickly.

“We are all looking forward to watching those individual battles and are hoping England play to the top of their game because, if they do, they are a great side to watch.”