30 May,2009 12:14 PM IST | | AFP
Ricky Ponting insists Australia are determined to use the forthcoming Ashes series to show they are still the most intimidating force in world cricket.
When Ponting and his teammates arrived in England this week ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament which precedes the Ashes, there were a few familiar faces missing from the 16-man tour party.
After over a decade of tormenting England, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist have all retired, while experienced all rounder Andrew Symonds was left out of the squad.
The absence of so many household names has led some critics to question Australia's ability to retain the Ashes urn they won back in emphatic fashion in 2007.
After thrashing England 5-0 two years ago, Ponting must rely on a less battle-hardened group this time when the five-Test series starts in Cardiff on July 8.
But the Australia captain is adamant the likes of Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus showed during the recent Test series victory in South Africa that they can cope with the pressure of facing tough opposition in a hostile environment.
"If any sporting team around the world lose some of the all-time greats of the game out of their side, you can definitely understand why people would think it would be easier to beat us," Ponting said.
"But it would be interesting to see if the England players are saying the same thing as what media and fans might be saying about the current Australian side.
"There was a lot being made of Andrew Symonds not being picked in our squad and how that squad seems to be a little bit less intimidating than it was.
"But I think I am intimidated by good players, the better players you see in any team the more intimidated I become, not necessarily just names so that's how I would be looking at it.
"As I said, our last series was beating a very, very good South African team in their conditions so that's all I can judge anything I say on.
"That's why I feel excited and reasonably confident that we can play at a level that's going to be good enough to be competitive against any team around the world in any conditions that we are confronted with."
While some of Ponting's squad lack experience of an Ashes series in England, they couldn't have a more streetwise leader to show them the ropes.
Ponting is on his fourth Ashes tour and knows just how determined England will be to emulate their epic 2005 victory over his men.
But, never one to miss an opportunity to play a few mind games with the opposition, Ponting has wasted little time raising questions about his England counterpart Andrew Strauss, who will be captaining in an Ashes series for the first time.
"This is my fourth Ashes tour, so I think I've got a pretty good understanding of the way things are going to be over the next few months," he said.
"For a lot of the English players, the guys who haven't been there before, then there's that great challenge for them and for Andrew as captain of the side, there's obviously a few more challenges that might confront him in the next few months as well.
"I don't know a lot about him actually as a leader. I've seen what he's been able to achieve since he's been in the position through the West Indies tour, he obviously played very well over there in a series loss but he's obviously once again captained the side well in the last couple of games here against the West Indies.
"We haven't had a chance to see him against us as a leader and under intense pressure and hopefully over the next few months we'll get to see that."
While Strauss may find it uncomfortable in the cauldron of an Ashes clash, Ponting can't wait for battle to commence again.
"I really enjoy the opportunity of captaining Australia and playing as much cricket as I can so I am re-invigorated," he said.
"I am excited for what lies ahead, not only in this series either but for the next few years of my playing career so challenges, different things pop up all the time."
