SYDNEY — England fast bowler James Anderson believes his team must end their 31-year winless streak in Brisbane next month against Australia to set a marker for the rest of the Ashes series.

A draw at the Gabba was enough for England to launch a successful Ashes tour of 2010-11, but Anderson wants to go one better to silence the home crowd.

"Both teams have gone through a transitional phase over the last two years," Anderson, England's record Test wicket-taker with 506 dismissals, told Sky Sports.

"Both teams have started to show signs of real quality I think but have also been pretty inconsistent, so it is going to be about whoever starts well. "The Gabba has been a bit of a fortress for Australia, they've not lost there since 1988 so coming away from there with a result — whether it is a draw or a win — I think is important to how the series will go."

Anderson was the leading wicket-taker as England won the Ashes in 2010-11 but has also been on the receiving end of two series whitewashes by Australia. The 35-year-old believes the pitches in Australia and England in recent years have offered similar challenges.

"I think the same things apply as they do in England," Anderson said of bowling in Australia. "The biggest adjustment for me is that it is not going to swing as much, so finding other ways of getting wickets is important for myself.

"Generally though, the pitches are similar to in England. You might get a little bit more bounce and potentially a little bit less grass on them but generally they're not that much different."

The first match of the five-Test series starts in Brisbane on Nov. 23.

Pick and stick with Ashes 'keeper, says Gilchrist

Wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist has called on Australian selectors to pick and stick when they decide who will be behind the stumps for the upcoming Ashes series.

Three players are seen as being in the mix to take the gloves — and also provide middle-order batting stability — ahead of the first Test. They include the current incumbent Matthew Wade, who has struggled with the bat, his predecessor Peter Nevill, who was axed 12 months ago, and the fast-improving Alex Carey.

Whoever gets the nod should be given an extended run, said Gilchrist, who played 96 Tests, making more than 400 dismissals and scoring over 5,500 runs. "Whoever they pick, they just need to give them a good run at it," he told radio station SEN late Monday.

"Say 'We've got to settle here now'. Like they've done with (Matthew) Renshaw at the top of the order. He was untried and they threw him in there. He's had 10 or 11 Tests now."

Gilchrist pointed to fellow wicketkeepers Ian Healy and Rod Marsh as players who repaid the faith of selectors by becoming greats of the game. He said there were arguments for all three players, but he believed South Australian Carey, 26, could be the surprise pick despite his lack of international experience.

"I'm hearing a big push for Carey from South Australia," he said. "He's slightly younger than the others... I believe he's a very hard worker and a top team man and a good guy to have around. I'm probably starting to think that it's more likely that (selectors) might say 'OK youngster, you're in'." — Agencies