test2wa

International Cricket

Ricky Ponting would not be surprised if England recall former skipper Michael Vaughan and paceman Steve Harmison for the Ashes.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting would not be surprised if England recall former skipper Michael Vaughan and paceman Steve Harmison for this summer's Ashes.

Vaughan and Harmison, two of the stars of England's 2005 victory, have both been overlooked for the current series against the West Indies.

Ponting said on Sky Sports News: "I've just got a bit of a feeling that they might want to get Vaughan back into the set-up and they might pick Harmison for when we get there.

Ponting praises England players

"So I think their side might actually shape up closer to the side of 2005 or 2007 than we actually think it might."

Ravi Bopara has impressed for England this year with consecutive Test centuries while Graeme Swann has emerged as first-choice spinner and Graham Onions had a promising debut against the West Indies last week.

Ponting added: "Bopara made a really good hundred against the West Indies last week, they've got Swann instead of Panesar, Stuart Broad's in there now, otherwise their batting is fairly similar with Pietersen, Collingwood, Strauss, Cook, those guys.

"We've played a lot against those guys over the years, so it's not too dissimilar, both sides have probably got three or four changes from last time we met."

Durham seamer Onions took five for 38 in the first innings of England's 10-wicket win at Lord's but Ponting is not convinced he will keep his place.

He said: "He's a lively bowler, he bowls 90mph-plus so he's up there 145 (kmph) sort of pace, He's lively.

"He did well in that game but I'm not sure when they get the Sidebottoms and all those guys back if he'll still be in their side, but we'll wait and see."

Strauss is not ruling out possibility of Vaughan's return

England captain Andrew Strauss has not ruled out the possibility Vaughan could return.

Strauss told Sky Sports News: "There is definitely a chance. There is still a lot of cricket to be played between now and the start of the Ashes.

"We all know what 'Vaughanie' brings to the side in terms of character and experience, so there is a chance there.

"He is not in the side at the moment, the guys in there have done very well so the ball is in the hands of the people playing in the side at the moment."