Glamorgan star Matthew Elliott is backing his compatriots to regain the Ashes 'Down Under' in 2006-07.

Elliott, who returned to Australia last month to complete his rehabilitation from the knee injury that brought his county season to a premature close in July, has hailed England as worthy winners of the recent series but rejects any notion of Australian cricket being in crisis.

"I think England deserved to win the Ashes because they were the better team for most of the series after losing the first Test at Lord's," Elliott said.

"England have some great players such as Andrew Flintoff and I thought my Glamorgan team-mate Simon Jones was excellent at reverse swinging the ball - he was always a threat.

"But there are a lot of good young players coming through in Australia so it's all set up for a great Ashes series in two years' time."

Elliott has moved to South Australia from Victoria and will join forces with young tearaway fast bowler Shaun Tait in state cricket during the winter.

Tait was expensive in the final two Ashes Tests but Elliott believes he could be the man to bolster Glamorgan's bowling attack next summer, though the county seem intent on re-signing Mike Kasprowicz.

"As a left-hander I just find him a real handful, particularly if the ball is swinging back in," Elliott said. "There is a lot of variety in his deliveries. You're not sure exactly where he's going to bowl it."

Meanwhile, Elliott, looking ahead to the 2006 county season -almost certain to be his last - has urged Gwent's David Harrison to show more leadership and consistency.

Elliott has been a long time member of the Panteg product's fan club but insists that this summer, in the absence of Kasprowicz, the entire Glamorgan bowling attack has been guilty of failing to take enough responsibility.

He said: "Dave Harrison is a very talented all-round cricketer who I have said for a long time has the ability to play for England. He needs to be more consistent by putting the ball in the right areas for over after over. At the moment the Glamorgan bowling attack gives the impression that they need to be led instead of taking the initiative for each other.

"Dave and the other young players need to take the next step by working harder and showing more desperation to play for England."