England go into the Ashes beginning on Wednesday as firm favourites in the eyes of many pundits and fans across the world.

This is unfamiliar territory for a team that has been bullied by Australia on many occasions and Andrew Flintoff believes this could be a crucial factor in the series.

“Historically, England have not been good at being the front-runners,” Ashes winner Flintoff said.

“They have got to treat it as any other Test match. They just need to go out and play.”

England have had many reminders of what a favourites tag can do to form and none more pressing than after the 2005 Ashes series.

England had ended there 18-year wait for an Ashes victory but subsequently lost to Pakistan just after providing an example of a team not coping with pressure.

Reaching number one in the world did not help England’s form either winning only one of the four series as a top Test side.

“They will be trying to take the pressure off themselves and stay relaxed,” said 35-year-old Flintoff, who retired from Test cricket after helping England regain the Ashes in 2009.

“Pressure might hinder them, so it’s all about how they react.”

On the other side there is Australia who have very little expected of them and have not had a smooth build-up to the series.

David Warner was banned for a bar bust-up with Joe Root and just over two weeks before coach Mickey Arthur was sacked and replaced by Darren Lehmann.

To add to that there are fitness doubts to captain Michael Clarke, a key figure in more ways than one throughout this Ashes series.

“There’s no pressure on Australia,” added Flintoff, who scored 3,845 runs and took 226 wickets in 79 Tests for England.

“Lehmann taking over was a good move. He’s a likeable bloke and the players will want to do well for him.”

Clarke averages 66.10 with the bat in his 24 Tests as Australia captain and Flintoff believes the 32-year-old must have a good series with the bat if the Aussies are to regain the Ashes.

“Clarke has to have success with the bat and as leader,” he said. “He’s got a tough job, because he hasn’t got the luxury of the quality players his predecessors as captain had.”

As always before an Ashes series, the banter has been flying between the camps with Graeme Swann identifying Clarke as a key wicket and James Pattinson predicting opener Root will be the target of some classic Aussie sledging.

“It’s just words,” continued Flintoff. “Glenn McGrath used to say he targeted players, but that’s nonsense.

“You try to get everyone you bowl at out; you don’t try harder to one than another.

“Clarke will be aware that he needs to have a good series, but Swann is just reminding him.”

A big decision on England’s part before this series was to omit Nick Compton, a decision that Flintoff backs.

That promoted Root to the top of the order but Flintoff isn’t sure that he was the best option.

“Compton is unlucky, but it’s the decision I would have made,” said Flintoff.

“Root’s a fine player with a great temperament, but opening the batting might not be the best thing for him at this stage.

“I’m not saying he can’t do it, but in an ideal world he could have some more time in the middle order. One of the senior players like Ian Bell or Jonathan Trott could have put their hand up to open.”

Flintoff was an intergral part to the England Ashes side of 2005 and was named as the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year for his achievements that summer.

“The Ashes is the pinnacle of your career as an England cricketer,” he said.

“The reason they have played and practised all this time is to have the opportunity to take on Australia in an Ashes series.

“You can have Twenty20 cricket and World Cups, but it’s all about the Ashes. These players are very, very lucky.”