Time for talk is over: captains

FINALLY the two captains found common ground; the time for talk is over.

For all the changes in fortune experienced by Australia and England since July 2009, the build-up to this first Ashes Test of 2010-11 has followed an old routine.

Ricky Ponting and his team have been openly aggressive, baiting the opposition and questioning their fortitude. Andrew Strauss has waved the troops behind him to be still and quiet.

Ponting and Strauss came together for a promotion yesterday, each holding one side of a replica urn. There were no wide smiles or small talk, just a firm handshake.

"It doesn't matter at all what's happened in previous series; it's about what happens [this] morning and the next few weeks," Ponting said.

"The feeling around the group is great, there's a lot of confidence around the group. Guys feel good about themselves, feel good about their games and they're really excited about getting this Ashes series underway.

"I've done enough talking, enough training, enough preparation. It's game time now, and I'm really excited about that."

"His history is that he's had these type of back complaints for most of his career. I'm not sure if he's actually missed a game because of it. I'm not sure what the long-term diagnosis for this one is. All I know is that he's ready to go for this game and we'll assess him at the end of the game.

"I wouldn't have thought there's any risks involved with it at all. It's a big game for us . . . we don't want to go in with a cloud hanging over anybody. We wouldn't afford any stone unturned as far as his preparation was concerned."