THE feelgood factor inside the England team following their Ashes triumph has immediately rubbed off on the new arrivals for the upcoming oneday series against Australia according to spinner Michael Yardy.

Yardy is one of six new faces who arrived to join the squad in the immediate wake of the Test team’s celebrations after they sealed their historic triumph in Sydney last Friday.

The spinner admitted it has been impossible for the new players not to be swept up in the emotion of their teammates, but believes that is already proving a good thing as they prepare for the two Twenty20 and seven one-day internationals against Australia.

Five of the new arrivals immediately tasted success when they helped the tourists to a convincing seven-wicket win over a Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Monday, with Yardy claiming three wickets.

The Sussex skipper admitted joining a buoyant group had made easing back into England colours easier, in what was the only warm-up match before today’s opening Twenty20 international in Adelaide.

“The boys are buzzing, obviously after winning a series like that they are going to be. It’s nice to be a part of it.

You fit in very well, it’s a good environment to come into,” he said.

“Everyone is really happy and enjoying each other’s company.

“There is a lot of love in the group at the moment and whether that bring results or it’s the results that bring the team closer together I am not too sure. But certainly everyone is happy.

“Everyone is willing each other on to do well, everyone was itching to see Belly score a hundred (against the Prime Minister’s XI) and they were really pleased for him when he got there.

“There is a real feelgood factor about this team.

“It was nice for me to bowl well also. I have to bowl a fraction slower over here so it was a good start.”

Yardy is set to play in the Adelaide game when England will aim for a world-record eighth consecutive win in the format of the game.

The run began during their successful World Twenty20 campaign in the Caribbean last year and while Yardy, who has played in all seven wins, said the players had spoken about the record, their focus was on keeping up their winning form.

“It’s been discussed but I don’t think it is something that has always been spoken about,’’ he added.

“Obviously, you want to achieve world records and it is an opportunity to achieve that, but it is not the main focus. It is very much about continuing the tour in a successful mode.”

There is an extra incentive for England’s players to maintain their good form in the shorter formats also with places up for grabs in the 15- man World Cup squad, which is to be named by next Wednesday.

Yardy revealed, however, that the players had not spoken to each other about the prospect of earning selection for the global tournament, which begins on the sub-continent next month.

■ Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch will not step aside from his post despite mounting criticism against him following the Ashes defeat.

Hilditch, whose contract runs out after the World Cup, revealed yesterday that Cricket Australia would have to make the call to relieve him of his duties rather than walking away himself.

The former Test opener oversaw an inconsistent Ashes selection which saw 17 players used, including ineffective debuts for spin duo Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer, who both ended the series with averages beyond 100.

Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin joined the critics when he described his omission from the Twenty20 squad to play England as “odd”.