Ponting angry over Warne's friendly fire

As the proudest of cricketing nations, Australia is virtually on a war footing ahead of the Ashes revenge mission against England. But their preparations have been unexpectedly hampered by friendly fire.

While expectation Down Under is reaching fever pitch, an unseemly row has broken out which threatens to divide their ageing squad.

A clearly agitated skipper, Ricky Ponting, was on Friday night urgently trying to contact Shane Warne to demand an explanation for the leg spinner's derogatory comments about coach John Buchanan.

While Ponting and the majority of the Ashes contingent are in Kuala Lumpur for a triangular one-day series against India and the West Indies, Warne is seeing out the county season with Hampshire.

On Wednesday, at the launch of his book, the 37-year-old told Sportsmail that Buchanan "lacks common sense".

He added: "His methods over-complicate issues" and suggested that Australia needed a a team manager rather than a coach.

Ponting reacted with barely-contained rage when he heard of his star bowler's comments. Having just come through a 'boot camp' with Warne and the rest of the national squad in the inhospitable Queensland bush, the skipper was so stunned by Warne's remarks that he could scarcely believe they were genuine.

Ponting said: "I've tried to make contact with Shane this morning. Both myself and John have left voice messages on his phone to have a chat with him and work out if he actually did say some of the things that were mentioned.

"Shane has had his own views about that sort of stuff for quite a while. It's not ideal that it's out there and that's why it is important that we get to the bottom of it and see if he actually has come out and said those things."

What seems to have incensed Ponting is the idea that Warne has undermined the carefully-cultivated image of unity in the lead-up to England's visit.

"The last time I spoke with Shane he was all about team solidarity and was looking forward to the team being a very solid group going forward," he said.

There is a history of antagonism between Warne and Buchanan, with the player questioning the extent of the coach's role in Australia's success.

Last summer, there were also reports — quickly dismissed as unfounded speculation — of a bust-up between Warne and Ponting following Australia's defeat in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Nonetheless, England will doubtless be delighted at the prospect of their opponents being consumed by internal conflict.

Troy Cooley, the former England bowling coach who returned to the land of his birth earlier this year, has warned Australia that England will be a dangerous proposition under the captaincy of Andrew Flintoff.

"I thought he did a fantastic job in India, even when he was feeling his way into the job," he said.

"He is a real leader of men and wears those three lions with a lot of pride. Others in the team can feed off that. He has the respect of all of them and knows how to get the best out of them."

Assessing the rejigged pace bowling unit, Cooley added: "If they're all fully fit, it's a pretty good attack. Simon Jones is obviously a big loss, but they still have a lot of talent."

Matthew Hoggard is expected to be fit to resume new-ball bowling duties Down Under, despite being withdrawn from Yorkshire's remaining two games of the season.

A scan revealed that he has a 'small abdominal strain' and he was still suffering some discomfort. The ECB have ordered him to rest until the start of next week, when his condition will be reassessed.