Wicketkeeper Paine joins Australian Ashes squad as cover

Tasmanian wicketkeeper Tim Paine will join the Australia squad as cover for injured reserve keeper Graham Manou before the fifth and final Ashes Test against England starting at the Oval on Thursday.

A Cricket Australia statement on Monday said Paine would arrive in Britain on Tuesday. He had been scheduled to fly in with the other members of the one-day squad on Saturday.

Manou played in the drawn third Test in Edgbaston after Brad Haddin broke a finger before play started on the opening day. Haddin played in the fourth Test at Headingley where Australia squared the series 1-1.

"Tim will arrive a few days early as a precautionary measure should Graham Manou's hand injury not recover sufficiently to be available as a reserve wicketkeeper," said Australian physio Alex Kountouris.

"Brad Haddin is expected to be fully fit for selection in this match."

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has said his 136th Test is the most important of his career.

"I have played in 135 Test matches but never played in a match as big as this one," Ponting wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. "There is nothing bigger than a deciding Test in an Ashes series."

DETERMINED AUSTRALIANS

Ponting has consistently deflected questions about Australia's defeat in the memorable 2005 series but he conceded how much losing the Ashes after 16 years had hurt.

"The only motivation I need this week is the memory of having to search out Michael Vaughan, congratulate him and shake hands at the end of the Ashes series of four years ago," he wrote.

"We made sure we stood outside and watched the ticker tape, the popping of champagne corks and the fireworks. We made sure we took it all in to make us better and stronger for the next time we played in 2006-07."

Australia won the return series 5-0 and they are determined to go all out for victory at the Oval even though a draw would ensure they retained the Ashes.

"It is a huge week," opener Simon Katich told reporters after the Australians' final warm-up match at the weekend.

"I remember the last time very well, we were sort of hoping to get back in the series at the Oval and nearly managed to do that.

"But nearly is not good enough. It was a great series but is remembered for the wrong reasons from our point of view. This time around we have the chance to really go in and get on top early and make the most of the opportunity."