Australian old guard urges end to Ashes friendship

MELBOURNE, Oct 13 (Reuters) Former Australian cricket greats are urging the current team to ditch their old pals act with England during the Ashes starting next month to help ensure they regain the treasured urn.

England's 2-1 Ashes series victory last year was notable for its nail-biting tension, high-quality play and also the emergence of a surprise entente cordiale between the players from the two usually combative teams.

The friendship of Ashes rivals and Hampshire team mates Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen was evident, while the most memorable image of the series came when Andrew Flintoff consoled a distraught Brett Lee after the Australians had gone perilously close to snatching the second test at Edgbaston.

But Australia selector Merv Hughes and former skipper Allan Border have led the calls for Ricky Ponting's side to put friendships to one side and return to the hard-nosed approach that made Australia the world's best.

''To me the perception was it was a very friendly series, played in fantastic spirit,'' Border told local media.

''We are not complaining about that but there was a perception we didn't have en edge to our game that we've had in the past.'' Former fast bowler Hughes recalled the ''in your face'' approach taken to Ashes contests in his playing days.

''We lost the attitude towards the English that we once had, the attitude that was introduced by Allan Border.'' Opener Justin Langer disagreed, saying the matches were played at the highest level of intensity and in the best competitive spirit.

''Imagine an Ashes contest being played like a village game, that's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard,'' Langer said.

''We played good, hard cricket on the field and had a beer off it.

That's how it should be.'' The five-test Ashes series starts in Brisbane on November. 23.

REUTERS DH PM0737