Ricky Ponting has said England despite their best efforts could not avoid talking about the upcoming Ashes series with Australia.
The mantra from everyone within the England camp, from captain Alastair Cook down, has been that the side, who completed a 2-0 Test series whitewash of New Zealand in Leeds on Tuesday and face the Black Caps in the first of three one-dayers at Lord's on Friday, are concentrating on the "here and now".
Prior to the Ashes, England and Australia will both be involved in next month's Champions Trophy one-day tournament.
But former Australia captain Ponting, in England to play for county side Surrey, said there was no avoiding the 'A-word' such is the prestige attached by both countries to cricket's oldest Test contest.
"You can guarantee at different times they'll have conversations about it," Ponting, set to miss his first Ashes since 1993 after retiring from international cricket six months ago, said yesterday.
"It's inevitable it's going to come up. I don't think there's anything wrong with it," said Ponting, who fully expects Australia captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur to discuss the Ashes well in advance of the first Test against England at Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground in July.
"When you turn up to play a Champions Trophy game, the last thing on your mind is what's going to happen in the Ashes," he said.
"The Australian team will be saying the same thing - but I guarantee at different times during the Champions Trophy, Mickey and Michael will be talking about Ashes cricket at some stage.
