Buchanan said he still smarted at memories of England's wild celebrations after winning the famous urn for the first time in 18 years.

"Those pictures and memories are indelibly etched into history, as well as into the feelings of all the Australian team that gathered solemnly to congratulate the opposition," Buchanan said on the Cricket Australia website.

"Since that moment, I think all of us, in our own ways, began preparing for the next Ashes series clash."

Some members of the team attended a countdown ceremony on Tuesday overlooking the iconic Sydney Opera House, at which fast-bowler Brett Lee cut a cake replica of the urn bearing the words "100 days to go."

Buchanan said despite injury fears over England stars such as Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan, he expected the tourists "will present a side in Australia very similar to that which we faced in England, in name and approach."

He predicted the Australians would prove more resilient to the swinging ball that perplexed them during the last series in England and had eliminated the "wayward" catching and bowling that also cost them dearly.

"We will be more mentally prepared for the tussle this time as there has been a good break away from the grind of 10 months a year of cricket," he said. "So physical, technical and tactical foundations should be good."

The series has generated huge interest in Australia, where tickets sold out in record time.

Buchanan said Australian supporters, as well as players, faced a huge challenge when thousands of "Barmy Army" supporters arrived down under to cheer on England.

"They will arrive in numbers, in strong voice and hearty song, and draped in the red and white crossed flag of St. George," he said.

"I hope our crowds are ready to do battle in song, in green and gold colour and in support of their national team."

After last year's defeat, about 60 Barmy Army members rubbed salt into Australia's wounds by hiring an open-top bus and parading through Sydney in noisy celebration.

Meanwhile, Australia middle-order batsman Michael Clarke is trying not to get too far ahead of himself as he looks forward to his team's bid to win back the Ashes.

The one-time golden boy of Australian cricket was dropped last year and is now focused simply on earning a place in the side for the first Test in Brisbane starting on November 23.

"Only 11 guys can play in the first Test and I'll just be looking to work as hard as I can and get some runs under my belt," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"The selectors have a few tough calls to make."

Clarke made a composed 91 in the second innings of the first Test against England at Lord's last year, the highest individual score of the match, helping set up Australia's crushing 239-run win.

Knocks of 40 and 30 at Edgbaston, seven and 39 at Old Trafford, 36 and 56 at Trent Bridge and 25 at The Oval completed a satisfactory Ashes bow for Clarke, but he was dropped from the Test side during the series against West Indies in November.

The dashing right-hander had to watch from the sidelines as the Australians won a tough series in South Africa before earning a recall for the trip to Bangladesh.

Fast bowler Brett Lee also admitted he was still feeling the pain of last year's Ashes defeat.

Lee said Australia's two-run defeat in the second Test at Edgbaston summed up the 2-1 series loss to England, who won back the Ashes for the first time in 18 years.

"We were so close to winning and we didn't," he said. "But all credit to England because they played fantastically well in the whole series."