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Michael Vaughan’s omission from England’s Ashes squad came as no surprise to Ricky Ponting. The absence of fast bowler Steve Harmison, who like Vaughan was part of the England side that won the 2005 series 2-1, also failed to raise the Australian captain’s eyebrows.
“I’m not surprised those two guys aren’t around with the way their current group have been performing of late,” Ponting told reporters on Monday ahead of a four-day tour match against Sussex starting in Hove on Wednesday.
“I think it pretty much picked itself, their squad, to tell the truth.”
Vaughan, who was England skipper in 2005, has not played a Test since standing down from the post during last year’s home series defeat to South Africa and has battled for runs and fitness this county season.
He has scored just 159 first class runs for Yorkshire at an average of 19.88 in six matches and has also been struggling with a knee injury.
Harmison was dropped during England’s tour of the West Indies earlier this year.
He will face Australia shortly before the first Ashes Test after being named in the England Lions squad to play the tourists in Worcester from July 1-4.
The Ashes opener starts in Cardiff on July 8.
But Ponting was not worried about facing the bowler whose fiery opening spell at Lord’s in 2005 left him with a cut cheek, Justin Langer a bruised elbow and Matthew Hayden a smacked helmet.
“At his best we all know how good he can be,” Ponting said of Harmison.
“At one stage there he was probably the best fast bowler in Test cricket in the world.
“To face guys who have played a bit of international cricket before, good preparation for us… you want to be facing the best bowlers, best opposition, you can before you go into a Test series.”
As expected, allrounder Andrew Flintoff, who is making his way back from knee surgery, was named in England’s Ashes squad.
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