Ponting believes England will field Harmison, Vaughan in Ashes

Sydney, May 14 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes both Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison will find a spot in the England squad during the upcoming Ashes series.

Vaughan, who captained England to Ashes glory in 2005, and pace bowler Harmison, who was one of the stars of that series, are currently out of an England squad which won the first of a two-Test series against the West Indies in convincing fashion last week.

"I've just got a bit of a feeling that they might want to get Vaughan back into the set-up and they might pick Harmison for when we get there. So I think their side might actually shape up closer to the side of 2005 or 2007 than we actually think it might," Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.

Ponting also said he was impressed with England's emerging players Ravi Bopara and Graeme Swann.

"Bopara made a really good hundred against the West Indies last week, they've got Swann instead of (Monty) Panesar, Stuart Broad's in there now, otherwise their batting is fairly similar with (Kevin) Pietersen, (Paul) Collingwood, (Andrew) Strauss, (Alastair) Cook, those guys," he said.

"We've played a lot against those guys over the years, so it's not too dissimilar, both sides have probably got three or four changes from last time we met."

Durham seamer Grahm Onions took 5-38 in the first innings of England's 10-wicket win at Lord's but Ponting is not convinced he will keep his place.

"He's a lively bowler, he bowls 90mph-plus so he's up there 145 (kph) sort of pace. He's lively.

"He did well in that game but I'm not sure when they get the (Ryan) Sidebottoms and all those guys back if he'll still be in their side, but we'll wait and see."

The first match in the five-Test Ashes series will be played at Cardiff from July 8. (ANI)