Embarrassed by the Ashes defeat last year, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting [ Images ] has vowed to clinch back the famous urn from England [ Images ] when they meet in November later this year.

Ponting-led Australia [ Images ] lost the Ashes (2-1) for the first time in 18 years last summer and Ponting said his players would go all out to avenge their shameful defeat.

"It's a huge series for the team -- to be the first one to hand over the Ashes in 18 years was something the players were embarrassed and ashamed about," Ponting said.

"England will face a better Australian team than they did last time," he was quoted as saying by BBC Sport on Monday.

"We've worked really hard on our games and performances - everything is heading in the right direction and everything isn't smooth sailing for England," he said referring to the injury-ravaged English team.

"I'm confident we'll play well, we've brought our games on a long way since the end of the Ashes.

"We know it will be a big challenge again and if they have a 90 per cent fully-fit team they will be very competitive.

"But in our conditions, with our crowds, and with us being a better team now than we certainly were then, I'd like to think the result will be a bit different this time."