England no Ashes underdogs: Sthalekar

England should go into the upcoming Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes as favourites despite attempts to claim the 'underdogs' tag for the multi-format series, according to Australia great Lisa Sthalekar and injured captain Meg Lanning.

Earlier this month, England captain Heather Knight said she still believed Australia were the best team in the world despite her team's triumph in the recent Women's World Cup, a success that then saw them rise to No.1 in the International Cricket Council's rankings.

But Lanning disagreed, suggesting an attempt to claim underdog status might be a tactical move from their Ashes rivals.

"I expect it to be a very tight series and it'll be difficult for one team to dominate the whole way through," Lanning told ABC Grandstand.

"I think England will come over as favourites, I think them claiming to be the underdog is a bit of a tactic."

Sthalekar said despite Australia having the home ground advantage, they'd face a difficult challenge to train the Ashes trophy in the face of an England team full of form and confidence.

"England think they're the underdogs (but) I'm questioning that," Sthalekar said. 

"I think they should be seen as the side who should come away with the Ashes. 

"Given the strength that they've shown in the World Cup and they're ranked No.1 and full of confidence. 

"I think it will be hard for the Australians to overcome that. The only thing that could affect England is a hangover effect from the World Cup.

"You win it for the first time in a long time, they beat Australia in a round match for the first time since 1993.

"To me, they should come away with a victory but certainly doesn't mean the Australian team doesn't have the players and the firepower to stop that.

"It's crucial for the Australian team to start off well and they need to get the balance of their side right."

World No.1 batter Lanning will find herself in an unfamiliar position on the sidelines for the Ashes, having been ruled out for the summer after undergoing shoulder surgery.

And while she thinks England should head in as favourites, Lanning also believes the pain of missing the World Cup final will drive her team to get the job done.

"There's no doubt the squad is really keen to bounce back, it was a pretty shattering way to end the World Cup," Lanning said.

"We're certainly still reeling from it and I think that will drive the team to start the series well and carry that through the series."

The multi-format Ashes series, which features three ODIs, a day-night Test and three T20Is, will begin at Brisbane's Allan Border Field on Sunday. 

Both Australia and England will hope the forecast wet weather throughout the coming week won't interfere too much with their preparations, with both teams set to play 50-over warm-up games, against a Queensland XI and a Cricket Australia XI respectively, on Monday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, two months have passed since Lanning went under the knife and the 25-year-old said her recovery was progressing well.

"I'm now starting to get moving again and get some strength back into it, so it's going as well as it could be going."

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule

First ODI Allan Border Field, October 22

Brisbane Charity Partner: Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust

Second ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 26

Third ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 29

Coffs Junior Cricket Association Partners: Coffs Harbour District JCA, Nambucca Bellingen JCA, and Clarence River JCA

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT