ENGLAND captain Michael Vaughan suggested there was more heated battle with Ashes rivals Australia to come after the fiery one-day washout at Edgbaston.

Vaughan's team's final NatWest Series group game, which was abandoned just six overs into England's pursuit of 262, was most notable for an altercation which flared when a wild Simon Jones throw struck Matthew Hayden below the left shoulder.

After picking the ball up in his follow through, the Welshman hurled it at the Australian opener in an apparent attempt for a run out, which caused a furious reaction.

Although Jones apologised for his actions, Hayden answered back and then brushed shoulders with Paul Collingwood as the players converged on the pitch.

"We play it pretty tough and so do they so I wouldn't say it will be the last time in the middle that England and Australia have a few words," said Vaughan. "We haven't overstepped the line, we try to play in the right spirit but with these teams there are bound to be times when things get a bit heated.

"We try to play as a team in all situations and you have to stick together when there's a little bit of confrontation. That is what other teams do.

"The incident was probably a bit untoward but it was good to see an England team all together."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting attempted to cool things from the non-striker's end and umpires David Shepherd and Billy Bowden addressed Vaughan and Jones at the start of the next over from the pavilion end, the eighth of the innings.

Ponting tried to play down the flashpoint ahead of Saturday's triangular tournament final between the sides at Lord's.

"It was just something that happened in the heat of battle," Ponting insisted. "I don't think there was any malice or that he meant to hit Matty.

"But when the ball did strike him I think you expect a bit of retaliation from the batsman's point of view. He had a few words and it was over with very quickly.

"I went to talk to him as I just wanted to make sure he was focused and ready for the next ball, that he had dealt with it and got it out of his system; he is great at switching on and off anyone.

"The bowler is entitled to try to run someone out. Saying that the throw wasn't that close to the stumps."

Tensions were also high when Kevin Pietersen claimed a catch at third man from Damien Martyn's uppercut.

Martyn lingered at the wicket before his eventual exit left Australia 123 for four.

Ponting and Vaughan were meant to talk about contentious catches prior to this series but that has been deferred until the eve of the Ashes.

"It appeared to be a clean catch on the replay screen so I was pretty happy with that," said Ponting. "What we try to do is take it out of the umpire and third umpire's hands.

"In Damien's defence I think what he was trying to do was get it from Kevin as to whether he thought he caught the ball. He certainly wasn't going to stand there and argue."

Thunder and lightning ultimately denied the contest a positive result.