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No Ashes Scars From Semi Smashing: Aussies

AARON FINCH of Australia plays a shot during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Australia insist a gutting World Cup semi-final loss to England will not create any mental scars in the Ashes, with Pat Cummins believing the defeat will only add more fire in the belly.

Justin Langer's team knocked off the tournament hosts in the group stage but England turned the tables in spectacular fashion, ending Australia's campaign with a clinical eight-wicket win.

The lopsided contest unfolded at Edgbaston, the same venue where the five-Test series begins on August 1.

Langer and national selectors, yet to finalise what is likely to be a 16-man squad for the Ashes, will now quickly turn their full attention to plotting Australia's first Test series win in the UK since 2001.

The pitch, players and plans of both teams will obviously change in coming weeks as they swap white balls for red balls, with England facing Ireland in a one-off Test at Lord's while Australia confront Australia A in a virtual selection trial at Southampton.

Limited-overs captain Aaron Finch, who could feature in the Southampton tune-up but is fully expected to miss out on a Test recall, dismissed the suggestion that England gained not only a World Cup final berth but a psychological edge in the Ashes.

"There will be a high turnover of players," Finch said.

"I don't think that the guys carry too much baggage when you are going between formats.

"If we rolled up and played a one-dayer tomorrow there might be a few scars there, but in terms of the Test, I don't think so."

England's Test skipper Joe Root, who finished 49 not out on Thursday, argued the result was proof his team does not fear Australia.

"There's a huge amount of respect because they're a great side, good across all formats, but there's not that element of fear that has been spoken about in the past," Root said on BBC Radio.

Australia's World Cup squad members involved in the Ashes will now be given a week to hit the reset button, with team management keen to avoid player burnout during a marathon winter in England.

Pat Cummins, one of a handful of Australians backing up for the showpiece Test series, is keen to return to Birmingham and right a wrong.

"Don't need too much extra fuel but it gives us a little bit more," Cummins said.

"We're back here in two or three weeks. Feel like I've played here now, know what to expect from the crowd.

"I'll probably just have a chilled week now, get away from cricket ... get away from it and get into the work."