Ponting issues Ashes challenge

Preparations for Wednesday's npower series opener in Cardiff were rocked only hours before the toss when it was confirmed Lee had damaged an abdominal muscle in his left side and would in all likelihood be out until the third Test.

"Reputations and legend are generally made out of these bigger series and there is no bigger series than an Ashes series to do that," said Ponting.

Lee, 32, only recently returned to action after undergoing foot and ankle surgery following the 2008 Boxing Day Test defeat against South Africa. But, as they did on the tour of South Africa earlier this year, the Australians' other pacemen must provide the firepower if they are to set up series victory.

Ponting added: "One good initiative we have had since we have been here is during every game day or training day, one or two guys have been telling us what an Ashes series means to them, and what it means to be a part of it.

"Hearing them say some of the things they have said makes me think they really want to forge their own identities and make an impact in this series."

Lee admitted he felt duty-bound to get his niggle checked out because of the magnitude of the series, hinting that he might have played on in other circumstances after a six-month absence from the Test team.

The tour matches against Sussex and England Lions were his first outings outside of Twenty20 action this year, and his six first-innings wickets in Worcester last week appeared to have cemented his return to international action.

"The work he did last week was pretty impressive as everybody saw," said Ponting, referring to Lee's reverse swing masterclass against England's A side.

"So the thinking caps will have to go on and we will have to work out what the best XI will be in these conditions down here. "We have got more than capable guys to step into that void."