Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting, AO, nicknamed Punter, is an Australian former cricketer who was captain of the Australia national cricket team during its 'golden era'; between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional bowler. Ponting holds the incredible record of being the only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to be a part of 100...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionCricket Player
Date of Birth19 December 1974
CityLaunceston, Australia
CountryAustralia
We're going to need some experienced guys back in the Test side if Glenn doesn't come back, so I'm sure their names will be at the top of the list.
As I have seen over the last two days of this game, a lot of that fight is there but just not for long enough. If we want to win Test matches, it has to be over the four days, we have to be at our best for four days.
A lot of our guys are in good form, there's a good feeling around the team and if we get out there and start the test match well I'm sure South Africa will find it hard to beat us.
The thing about our batsmen right now is it's not as if anyone is going through a lean trot. Guys are getting 20 and 30 and 40 and getting out, which is fairly unusual for our players, ... To win Test matches you have to have those big scores made. You have to make hundreds in Test cricket, that's what it's all about. They're just not doing that right now. There's no doubt we'll sit down and talk about some of the individuals, but I must admit I'd be surprised if any changes were made.
It's a song that we sing after we win a Test match. We sing it after every one-day series win. It's been passed down through the generations. It's the culture of the Australian team.
I couldn't help thinking during the past two Tests that it's been very rare that we've been well and truly outplayed for the majority of two matches in a row and found ourselves under pressure for long periods, basically suffering what other teams normally suffer against us. It's almost as if we've become those opposition teams, and England has suddenly become Australia.
Although we lost it has been a great Test and one of the best I have ever played in. Hopefully the next one will be exactly the same.
It's always good to win a Test match and if you win it comfortably, it can leave a few psychological marks on opposition sides.
We've been in this sort of situation before in series. We lost the first final of the VB Series a few weeks ago (against Sri Lanka in Australia) and won the next two.
We have relied heavily on Warne and McGrath and, as a captain, I will always go to those two guys because I know they will give me pretty much what I ask for every time,
It is hypothetical to think about what could have happened because we didn't lose the game.
I think they've just slightly had the edge over Sri Lanka and I think Sri Lanka probably rely on too few players and I think South Africa have got more depth.
We'll be able to put a stronger team on the ground and we can hopefully get back to playing the way we have been over the past few weeks. If we do, we'll be very hard to beat.
That was probably what got my back up more than anything, was to have their coach standing on the balcony smiling at me once I was dismissed.