Melbourne: Mind games have taken centerstage ahead of the much awaited Ashes series with Australian captain Ricky Ponting and coach John Buchanan engaging in a war of words with England coach Duncan Fletcher.

The Australians said that Fletcher was 'playing games' ahead of tomorrow’s opening match of the tour. Ponting questioned Fletcher’s intention of giving importance to his team’s Champions Trophy victory over the Australians in 2004 while choosing to ignore the current reversal of roles, a report in 'The Age' said here today.

In his Ashes diary, Fletcher was adamant that England’s win over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final two years ago gave them the belief and a tactical blueprint for the Australians, both of which proved crucial in the team’s eventual Ashes victory.

Ponting said that England, on account of Australia’s six-wicket victory inside 37 overs at Jaipur, was well behind the Australians.

"I would not have expected (Fletcher) to say anything about that last (Champions Trophy) game before the last Ashes if they had lost,” he was quoted as saying. “They said they were gauging themselves against us in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy last time around, and I guess if they are going off that again on that last game they played, they have got a long way to go," he said.

Buchanan said Fletcher was adopting the kind of psychological tactics for which Clive Woodward, England’s World Cup-winning rugby coach, was renowned.

"Right at this stage, I am sure Duncan is playing a lot of little games. I think Duncan might be playing the same game," he said.