FORMER Australia fast bowler Rodney Hogg believes This year's Ashes series will be the making of Brett Lee.

Hogg, who described the five-Test series over the next couple of months as a "full-on, heated battle", is convinced Lee, 28, will finally show to the rest of the world his true colours as a top-line paceman.

"Lee is at the most potent stage of his career as a paceman and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't go on and take 300 Test wickets.

"He is fast and fearsome when he bowls at the right length.

"He's also a magnificent athlete so I don't see any problem in him adding another 150-170 wickets in the next four or five years.

"He has 137 Test wickets to date so that will take him close to, or over, 300."

Hogg, who claimed 132 scalps in 38 Tests, believes Lee is the heir apparent to Glenn McGrath's crown.

"McGrath is going to capture his 500th wicket on the first morning of the first Test at Lord's," he said confidently.

"In fact, I'd say it will happen in his first over, at about three minutes past 11 (on Thursday morning)."

Hogg also believes Jason Gillespie will win the tussle with good mate Michael Kasprowicz for the third pace spot.

"I think the Australian selectors may well decide to rotate those two throughout the series but they won't decide that until after the first Test."

But Hogg does not believe Australia's fast bowlers hold the key to the outcome of the most eagerly-anticipated Ashes series in living memory.

According to Hogg, England's pacemen will decide whether the sought-after Ashes urn changes hands for the first time since Allan Border's side won it in 1989.

"England's strength is in their pace attack," Hogg said.

"And in Andrew Flintoff they could have the new Ian Botham - the all-rounder they have been searching for in more than a decade."

Hogg also believes if any captain can steer England to victory it is Michael Vaughan.

"He's the perfect man for the heat of battle - the best skipper England has appointed since (Mike) Brearley," said Hogg, who later described Brearley as "having a degree in people".

But he also concedes if the English middle order succumbs under pressure to Shane Warne, the writing will be on the wall as early as this week.

"If Bell averages 30 at four in what is really his first series and Pietersen, Flintoff, and Jones also play well England have a show," Hogg said.

"The Shane Warne barrier will be interesting.

"He has a psychological advantage over England which is worth three wickets straight away. Do they try to attack him or sit back and allow him to control them?"

Whatever the outcome, Hogg is convinced the series will breathe new life into the game in the country where it was invented.

"It will be great for the game. I can see lots of kids walking down the street with Flintoff on the backs of their shirts instead of Beckham," he said.