ASHFORD (England), June 5: Australia face a tougher challenge to retain the Ashes against a much improved England squad, captain Ricky Ponting said on Sunday. The Australians flew in earlier in the day at the start of a three-month tour ready to defend the Ashes, which they have held since 1989, establishing a record sequence of eight series wins.

Ponting said: “England thoroughly deserve their number two ranking.

“They’ve beaten almost everybody they’ve come up against in Test cricket over the last couple of years. It would indicate that they’ve improved quite a bit as a team.

“Things indicate it probably will be a tougher series than we’ve had in the past.”

Ponting feels the crowded summer itinerary will work for his team. “We’re not just here to prepare for the Test series because we have the one-day series to play first and that’s our main focus right now.”—Reuters