21 May,2009 08:16 AM IST | | AFP
Skipper Ricky Ponting believes Australia have learned the lessons of their titanic 2005 series loss and promises England a torrid Ashes battle with his rebuilt team.
The Australians hold the famous urn after regaining the Ashes 5-0 in the 2006-07 series.
And yesterday, selectors unveiled a transitional 16-man squad with a total match experience of just 418 Tests.
Only Ponting, vice-captain Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Brett Lee remain from the last series in England four years ago.
But 131-Test veteran Ponting warned England, fresh from trouncing the West Indies 2-0, that his Aussies will pose a much sterner threat in the five-Test July-August series.
"England have done everything very well against the West Indies, but I can guarantee that they'll be facing a stiffer opposition when we arrive," Ponting said. "A lot of us have been there, learnt from our mistakes and we're keen to rectify that.
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There's a void in my cricketing career and that's being captain of a winning Ashes series in England. That's something very dear to my heart."
In a squad notable for the absence of unpredictable all-rounder Andrew Symonds, eight have played fewer than 10 Tests. Selectors went for three all-rounders Shane Watson, Andrew McDonald and Marcus North but there was no room for the 34-year-old Symonds.
