recent defeats against India and Sri Lanka need not worry about the team suffering similar setbacks against Australia this summer, fast bowler Devon Malcolm said yesterday.

Jamaican-born Malcolm, who was rested by Derbyshire yesterday, said that despite the losses during their tours to the subcontinent, England remained optimistic about their chances in the Ashes series against Australia.

When asked by The Royal Gazette if England had slipped to the lower echelons of Test cricket following a series of poor results during the past two years, Malcolm replied emphatically: "You can't really say that.'' He added: "England don't have to do much to get back on top of their game, I really believe this. England will have a great series against Australia coming up because playing them at home is going to be quite different than what we experienced playing in India and Sri Lanka.

"During the forthcoming series against Australia our players are going to be much more confident playing under more familiar conditions, unlike during the recent tour when wickets were prepared to suit the many spin bowlers there.'' England were blasted by the media when they returned home from India and Sri Lanka and faced headlines like, "England's Shame Goes On'' and "How Long Can They Go?,'' but Malcolm said it had not been an easy task for the English team in either country.

He recalled that India were in a similar position when they toured Australia and South Africa and had a "terrible time,'' only to bounce back and recover with a fine home series.

"It's just not easy to play and beat India there. The conditions are just too tough, one is never 100 percent fit at any time. By the time you get used to the wicket, you are not very well physically because of the heat and humidity, the smog and the effects of the food,'' explained Malcolm.

Combined with these problems there was the umpiring which was never the best, he said.

The fast bowler did not call the umpires cheats, but he said there were times when decisions were made that often went against the visiting country. "They certainly are not the best umpires,'' he said.

In Sri Lanka, where England finished off their Asian trip and lost for the first time to a country that only started playing international cricket 11 years ago, Malcolm said that England simply started off badly and "just couldn't get out of the rut.'' "In India our batsmen got bogged down by the spin bowlers and did not play as confidently. The only way you do well in India is when the batsmen produce big scores,'' he said.

"The wickets over there are not conducive for quick bowlers. I reckon that 90 percent of the wickets there were taken by spinners. They even used their spinners to open the bowling in India. Overall though I have to be honest and admit that we did not play well enough and were beaten fairly and squarely,'' he conceded.

Looking to the challenge that lies ahead with Australia, Malcolm said he hoped he would be picked by the England selectors despite his limited success in India and Sri Lanka.

"The majority of us did not shine at all on the recent tour so there is no guarantee that anyone will be an automatic choice against Australia, but I am hopeful that I will have a go against them,'' said Malcolm.

"I didn't bowl much in India because we were hoping our spinners would do most of the damage. I'm now working towards having a good start in county cricket with Derbyshire and hopefully will then join the England team.'' In the last home Test against Pakistan last summer Malcolm took five wickets and he has happy memories of that achievement.

"I believe I am still bowling as quick as any other time,'' he said. As far as Bermuda cricket is concerned the fast bowler has noted a marked improvement among national team players since his visit a year ago. "We are going to have to work hard to beat these guys.'' FINGERS CROSSED -- Devon Malcolm, in Bermuda as a member of the Derbyshire squad, hopes to get the call for England during upcoming Test against Australia.