By Martin Gough at Trent Bridge

Tait to replace Gillespie

"He's worked hard all through the tour and unfortunately he just hasn't been at his best," said Ponting.

"He's a class performer and he's done such a fantastic job over a long period of time.

"It's just come to the stage in the series where we thought a slight change in personnel would be of benefit."

Gillespie, 30, is younger than team-mates Mike Kasprowicz and Glenn McGrath, both now above him in the pecking order.

McGrath injury concern

But he has managed just three wickets, at a cost of 300 runs, in the Ashes series so far.

"Jason just has to keep positive, keep working hard," Ponting added.

"You never know, there might be another opportunity in this tour for him.

"If not then he's got to get back to domestic cricket at home and do what he does best, which is be aggressive, bowl fast and take lots of wickets."