CHENNAI, Aug. 24: The Ashes defeat will have hurt the Australians hard. Along with the reversal the world champions have also seen their world ranking slip to an all time low. The wound is deeper when the battle for the urn is lost according to pace guru Dennis Keith Lillee.

"I hate to lose any series but in a series like the Ashes where there is so much tradition involved, the defeat is harder to take. The pain is more," said Lillee who is on a visit to the MRF Pace Foundation.

"The Ashes is similar to a series between India and Pakistan. It bites down deep. On the positive side this should call for more determination and a harder fight next time. It makes you want success more dearly in the next series. The players should also be prepared to work harder for it."

A parallel can be drawn to what Australia went through in 1983 when Lillee, Greg Chappell and Rodney Marsh all called it quits on the same day. The Australian Test team has seen seven high profile retirements in the last three seasons and it will be hard for youngsters to step in straightaway.

"We are talking about some of the best the game has seen and youngsters who come in as replacements must be given time to mature. Even a player like Matthew Hayden took his time to deliver, we have to wait as nothing is going to happen in a day," noted Lillee.

Australia’s domination was so heavy that the present fall looks steeper. "It was combination of many factors that put them on top. Rod Marsh did an excellent job with the academy. There was also some natural talent and it combined well.

"If you look at the game over a period of time, it is only the greats who have performed straightway. Allan Border was one such, his game was always solid. Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were able to achieve results from their first series, it is nearly impossible for players to replicate that. But Australia falling a bit and more teams being on the same level is good for the game as it is made more exciting," explained Lillee.

Meanwhile, as many as nine NCA trainees including Delhi’s Pradeep Sangwan commenced practice at the pace foundation here under Lillee on Monday. "The boys are from all age-groups and coach Pradeep Kasliwal is accompanying them. They will train till September 4," said chief coach M. Senthilnathan.

The Sri Lankan cricket board has also sent three of their promising fast bowlers, Sameera Vishwaranga, Shaminda Eranga and Roshan Fernando with coach Prabath Nissanka for a one week camp.