 Ponting's men lost two Ashes Tests with McGrath injured |
Australia captain Ricky Ponting says he has "no doubt whatsoever" paceman Glenn McGrath will be fit and firing for the start of the Ashes in November. McGrath, 36 next week, has struggled for wickets during an ongoing one-day international series and some former stars say he will not make the Ashes.
But Ponting told BBC Sport: "People say that because they know how old he is.
"I don't think they're judging it on his bowling. Without taking a whole lot of wickets he has bowled very well."
England's eagerly-anticipated attempt to win a series in Australia for the first time since 1986/87 begins on 23 November with the first Test in Brisbane.
Australia lost the series 2-1 in England last year, with both defeats coming when McGrath was injured, with elbow and ankle problems.
His overall Ashes record is outstanding - 136 wickets in 25 matches.
Australia's other veteran star bowler, leg-spinner Shane Warne, took a stunning 40 wickets in last summer's Ashes, and is still in good form aged 36.
"They can't say much about Warney," said Ponting, who was speaking from Melbourne after a day with sailing team ABN Amro.
"He will keep doing the business day-in, day-out for another couple of years yet.
"I've got no worries about those guys and if we get the right guys around them we'll be fine."
Ponting is also looking forward to the arrival of Troy Cooley, his former club-mate at Launceston in Tasmania, who quit as England bowling coach to take up a similar job with Australia.
He said: "I think he'll be great for us.
"I have a great relationship with him. I've grown up with Troy, learning the game from guys like him.
 |  We've played some reasonably good cricket against South Africa in the Test series and while it wasn't our absolute best it wasn't far off |
"I know some of our fast bowlers are looking forward to working with him so he'll be a great inclusion to our set-up."
Australia have won six of their seven Tests since the Ashes.
They beat a World XI in a one-off Test, before winning series against West Indies and South Africa 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.
"The cricket we've played since we've been back from England has been of a very high standard," Ponting added.
"We've played some reasonably good cricket against South Africa in the Test series and while it wasn't our absolute best it wasn't far off.
"We've got a little bit more Test cricket in South Africa and Bangladesh but things are heading in the right direction."
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