Cricket Australia threw its weight behind captain Ricky Ponting and the national selection panel.

The Board also promised to review the cause of the humiliating loss in the just-concluded Ashes series against England.

The 1-2 series loss also upstaged Australia from the top of the world Test rankings to the fourth place, one spot above England and polls in local newspapers in the country showed that a majority wants Ponting should be sacked.

The defeat gave Ponting (2005 and 2009) the dubious distinction of becoming only the second Australian captain after Billy Murdoch (1884 and 1890) to register two Ashes series defeat in England.

"Ricky's had a very, very good series. He's been under incredible pressure. I thought the dignity and poise that he showed in defeat was something that all Australians should be very proud of," CA Chief Executive James Sutherland told reporters.

Australian selectors, headed by Chairman Andrew Hilditch, have also received flak for their selection and for leaving spinner Nathan Hauritz out of the team for the final Test.

"I don't think in any way we can hold the selectors accountable for us losing the Ashes. At the end of the day the players go out and do the business on the field," he said.