Australia coach Mickey Arthur has thrown his support behind former captain Ricky Ponting's bid to contest a fifth Ashes cricket series against England next year.

Legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding feels that Australia lacks the fire-power to reclaim the Ashes from Andrew Strauss's Englishmen.

Having called time on his successful one-day international career, Ricky Ponting has made it clear that the Ashes tour to England next year was his goal.

Australia pacer Ryan Harris is pleased with the way his side has recovered from the Ashes humiliation to put up a dominant show against India but says they need to do better to turn the tables on England in the next series.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur considers the ongoing four-match Test series against India as a stepping stone for regaining the Ashes next year, which he says remains the team's ultimate goal.

The hammering the Indians are getting in Australia notwithstanding, the series is the most watched Down Under, surpassing the popularity of even the Ashes.

Andrew Flintoff has spoken of the emotional anguish he experienced leading England during their Ashes thrashing in Australia five years ago and how he wanted to retire at the subsequent World Cup.

Cricket and controversy, never far apart, were closely linked in a year where England finally achieved their long-held objective of climbing to the top of the world Test rankings.

The former England fast bowler, Graham Dilley, has died aged 52 after a short illness.

England Test captain Andrew Strauss considers the upcoming series against India as tough as the historic Ashes but is banking on home advantage to upstage the world's number one side.