Ponting hungry for Ashes revenge

"It's a huge series - to be the first one to hand over the Ashes in 18 years was something the players were ashamed about," Ponting said.

Embarrassed by the Ashes defeat in 2005, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has vowed to clinch back the famous urn from England when they meet in November later this year.

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Ponting-led Australia lost the Ashes (2-1) for the first time in 18 years last summer and Ponting said his players would go all out to avenge their shameful defeat.

"It's a huge series for the team -- to be the first one to hand over the Ashes in 18 years was something the players were embarrassed and ashamed about," Ponting said.

"England will face a better Australian team than they did last time," he was quoted as saying by BBC Sport on Monday.

"We've worked really hard on our games and performances - everything is heading in the right direction and everything isn't smooth sailing for England," he said referring to the injury-ravaged English team.

"I'm confident we'll play well, we've brought our games on a long way since the end of the Ashes.

"We know it will be a big challenge again and if they have a 90 per cent fully-fit team they will be very competitive.

"But in our conditions, with our crowds, and with us being a better team now than we certainly were then, I'd like to think the result will be a bit different this time."