Ponting in firing line over Ashes

Michael Vaughan has ramped up the pressure on Ricky Ponting ahead of the Ashes by stating that he will not survive as Australia captain if his side fail to regain the Urn this winter.

Pressure on Australia skipper Ponting is mounting following his side's recent series defeat against India and this summer's failure to beat Pakistan in England.

While being regarded as one of the most talented batsmen of his generation, Ponting's record is blemished by the fact that he has lost two Ashes series.

Vaughan, who beat the Tasmanian to clinch the urn in 2005, recognises that Ponting's record on home turf is something he should rightly be proud of but says that losing a contest with England for the third time will definitely cost him his job.

"If he loses the series he will go," said Vaughan. "He has lost the Ashes twice and hasn't won an Ashes in England either.

"Obviously he won the 06-07 Ashes 5-0 but he had a better team to manage those days but now he has a team that is almost back in the ranks of normal cricket teams.

"His record in Australia is phenomenal but he will have to be at his best, both as a captain and as a batsman to put England under pressure."