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SYDNEY - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has angrily rejected claims his side was too matey with England last year and has promised another fierce but friendly Ashes battle for the good of the game.
Ponting bristled when asked what he thought about recent claims from former Australian players Allan Border, Merv Hughes and Mark Waugh that his side's rapport with England contributed to their 1-2 series loss.
"I think it's a load of rubbish," he said.
"It's come from a few people who have been close to the side as well, which has been disappointing.
"I'm not sure of how much of the last series they watched.
"If we were chummy on the first morning of the first test match last time then I'd be pretty surprised."
Hughes is a current national selector and Border is a former selector.
Ponting, who still bears the scar on his cheek from the Steve Harmison bouncer which hit him on the first day of the 2005 series, said it was important both sides again contested in good spirit when the five-match series starts in Brisbane on November 23.
"You've got to keep the bigger picture of the game in your mind as well," he said.
"At one stage we were being criticised for being too aggressive on the field and the next minute we're being criticised for having a smile on our faces.
"It's pretty hard to keep everyone happy all of the time, but I'll guarantee when this Ashes series starts it will be as competitive as ever but if we're doing it with a smile on our faces, even better."
The Australians were clearly in no mood to hear the views of former players when they arrived home yesterday from India, where they won the Champions Trophy.
Batsman Damien Martyn said fast bowling great Dennis Lillee was in danger of losing the respect of current players if he continued to criticise the team.
"I think Dennis Lillee should keep quiet as president of the WACA -- it is disappointing," Martyn, 35, said when told of Lillee's criticisms of Australia's ageing side.
"The team is disappointed in Dennis' several comments over the last six months, which don't need to be said.
"No (it doesn't fire you up) ... you just lose your respect."
Ponting expected the bowlers from both sides to go hard at opposing batsmen, but said it would not be personal.
He expected more short stuff from Harmison, but promised the Australians would not sledge England opener Marcus Trescothick, just back from a stress-related illness.
Harmison has said he regrets not apologising to the Australian skipper after his bouncer drew blood, but Ponting had no hard feelings.
"He meant to bowl the bouncer but he didn't mean to hurt me and I was ready to face up for the next ball anyway, albeit with a cut on my cheek," he said.
"But so what? That's the game, you get on with it."
Ponting said Australia could expect another fierce contest, and described last year's series as the most intense he had played.
"There was pressure, pressure, pressure from both teams and I'd expect that again," he said.
Trescothick expects words to come his way from the Australians, but Ponting promised the attack on Trescothick would be above board.
"You're not going to abuse someone because of an illness or missing games of cricket," he said.
"Our bowlers will definitely be coming hard at him, but that will be with the ball and trying to dismiss him."
Australia's 11 wins from 12 tests since their Ashes loss, plus good one-day form and improving young players has Ponting convinced the side have regained a killer edge after too many batting blips and dropped catches last year.
"I don't think we'll make those mistakes again," he said.
- AAP
