The first priority is to appoint a captain who can lead from the front Dennis Lillee Beaten Aussies arrive home

Lillee believes making Shane Warne skipper would "dramatically improve" their chances of regaining the Ashes.

But Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath all gave Ponting their backing after the team arrived home.

"Ricky has been an outstanding captain up to this point and will continue to be so," said Gilchrist.

Langer added: "I have absolutely the highest respect and regard for Ricky Ponting.

"He was tested like all of us were tested for the first time in a very long time and he, like the rest of us, will be stronger and tougher for the experience."

To give the reins to Warne now is a bit knee jerk but I genuinely think Ponting made some poor decisions From SP Have your say on TMS

Writing in the West Australian newspaper, Lillee said Australia had been "ambushed" by England because "people right across the board were living in a comfort zone."

He continued: "If we are to get this team back on the rails, the plan has to go way deeper than making a few cosmetic changes to the XI which surrendered to England.

"Cricket Australia executives, the coach, the manager, the captain and support staff must all be held accountable."

Lillee claimed Warne had acted like the captain at various times during the final Test at The Oval.

"Warne was heavily involved in helping set the field and whenever I turned on the television, he was speaking on behalf of the Australia team.

Lillee took 355 wickets in 70 Tests for Australia

"There is no doubt that Warne has an amazing cricket brain. But not only that, and any cricket he plays is full of passion and determination."

Warne led Australia in 11 one-day games in 1998-99, winning 10 of them.

It is believed, however, that off-field scandals cost him the chance of becoming captain of the Test side.

Warne was once fined for accepting money from a bookmaker during a tour to Sri Lanka in return for pitch and weather information and was banned from the game for a year in 2003 after failing a drugs test.

Tabloid stories about his involvement with various women have not helped his cause either.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures... I wouldn't be worried about his previous indiscretions off the field," Lillee added.

How much blame, if any, Cricket Australia officials attach to Ponting will soon become apparent as the selectors have to name squads for next month's inaugural ICC Super Series.

It will pit Australia against all-star Rest of World sides in three one-day internationals and a six-day Test.

Coach John Buchanan, meanwhile, has to wait to find out whether he will be offered a new contract.

His current agreement expires at the end of the month and he recently admitted that if Australia lost the Ashes "heads will roll".