Strauss dismisses Ponting's Ashes claim

Ricky Ponting

AAP

ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss described Ricky Ponting's prediction of a possible 5-0 Ashes series win for his Australia team as the start of "silly season."

Ponting said on Monday a repeat of Australia's 2006-07 whitewash was "absolutely possible" despite a slew of key retirements since then, but Strauss made light of the comments.

"To a certain extent it's silly season starting with all sorts of predictions and people coming out with all sorts of things," Strauss said on Tuesday.

"From our point of view, we're in a nice place as a side, we're excited about going to Australia and we think we can do very well, but predictions mean nothing.

"Ultimately it's about what you do on that field on the first day at Brisbane that starts to count, and up to then what people say doesn't interest me to be honest."

The first Ashes Test starts in Brisbane on November 25, when England will bid to retain the urn having won 2-1 at home in 2009.

Strauss's team is preparing for Wednesday's third Test against Pakistan at The Oval where England is seeking to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.