No worries for Ponting as Aussies land, older but fresher

The effects of flying around the world had not dulled Ricky Ponting's wits as he met the English press within hours of touching down at Heathrow yesterday.

The effects of flying around the world had not dulled Ricky Ponting's wits as he met the English press within hours of touching down at Heathrow yesterday.

Was Australia's captain concerned about the profile of his 16-man Ashes party, which includes 11 the wrong side of 30? "Well, we're only two months older than the last time we played and it wasn't too much of a worry then," Ponting replied in a flash.

In February and March Ponting's men went to New Zealand, where they whitewashed the hosts in five one-day internationals and would have repeated the feat in the three-match Test series but for rain.

"The players you're talking about have been able to maintain very high standards over a long period of time," he said. "This could be the last Ashes tour for some, which will make it more special for them."

Ponting believes the tour schedule will favour Australia. "We had a long break before we came and we'll play 10 one-dayers before the first Test. I think it will work very well. And the fact England will be playing Test matches at the end of a long summer will mean it's a good time to play them."

The party travel today to France to visit war graves of Australian soldiers killed in the First World War. The Australians made a similar trip, to Gallipoli, before their last tour here four years ago. Theywon the Ashes 4-1.