Ashes trophy unveiled: Who will earn the urn?

After all the hype before Australia start their Ashes defence in a series delayed by the Twenty20 World Cup, both captains seemed happy to stop talking and start playing.

Ponting, 34, who is making his fourth tour of England, said the Australian team had been sharing memories of their first Ashes experiences.

"To hear those has been great," he said. "It goes back a long time for me. My uncle (medium pace bowler Greg Campbell) was selected in the '89 Ashes touring squad.

"I remember going down to his house just after his kit arrived with his baggy green and his jumper and his playing shirts. Just to go through all that and touch the clothing was for me where the dream of playing Ashes cricket all started."

Ponting's England counterpart, Andrew Strauss, concurred besides expressing confidence in his team ahead of the opening Test.

"I think we have all the bases covered, there's not going to be any massive Churchillian speeches," Strauss said.

England host Australia in the first Ashes Test starting on Wednesday without any of the obvious benefits of home advantage in a new venue with a relaid outfield.

Cardiff was controversially awarded the first Test of the series with the traditional venues of Trent Bridge in Nottingham and Old Trafford in Manchester missing out.

It will be the first Test match staged in Wales.