We won't repeat mistakes of 2005: Ponting by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	RT Ponting, B Lee, SK Warne
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 8th July 2009

 

Ricky Ponting said his team would play ruthless cricket and would not repeat their mistakes of four years ago when they begin the defence of the Ashes at Cardiff on July 8.

 

In 2005, despite brilliance shown by Shane Warne, who claimed 40 wickets in the series and Glenn McGrath who scalped 19 in just three appearances, the Aussies could not avert a 2-1 defeat.

 

Although the current crop have far less experience than their 2005 predecessors, however, Ponting is anticipating a better collective effort.

 

"What I am demanding of our team is we have an even contribution from all of our players," said Ponting, on the eve of opening Test in Cardiff today. "As we saw in 2005, you can have a couple of stand-out guys and still not win.

 

"Obviously I want some of the guys to have some of the best series of their careers but I want all of us to be able to contribute at different times. That is what made us as successful as we were in South Africa recently.

 

"There is no doubt there is a lot of hunger within the group to build on things we felt we started there. Our level of play over there was exceptionally high and we want to maintain that through the next couple of months.

 

"Where we were deficient in 2005 was not winning the critical moments in the series. We made enough mistakes to give England the opportunity to win some of those games.

 

"I am sure we won't make those mistakes again. If we are good enough we are good enough, and I have a really good feeling we are going to be good enough."

 

Another important thing topping the agenda of Ponting and co. would be that the side needs nothing less than a win to confirm their place on top of the world Test rankings. Their 2-1 away win over the Proteas earlier this year brought them back the place after South Africa had toppled them of the position last year.

 

The Aussies have spent a month practising and honing their skills alongside analysing their strengths and weaknesses in comparison with Andrew Strauss' team.

 

"We obviously want to win the series. There is a great hunger around the group, no more so for me than any of the other players.

 

"The really impressive thing is, if you have hardly played a Test, or as many as I have, the hunger and desire to do well for yourself and for your mates is as good as I have ever seen it around our team.

 

"That's an exciting thing for me. We will give it our best shot.

 

"We know what brand of cricket we need to play and know what to expect from the English, so all in all you will see another exciting and highly dramatic Test-match series.

 

"From my point of view, I don't necessarily want to contain the excitement. I want to go out there and express myself and express my excitement at being part of this series. That is what all the players will be doing."

 

Ponting, 34, is desperate to address the biggest blemish on his captaincy CV, when he became the first Australian leader to lose a Test series to England in two decades back in 2005.

 

This is Punter's fourth tour here and, given his age this could be his last.

 

These Ashes battles have always been a part of his life ever since his uncle Greg Campbell was selected 20 years ago.

 

"I remember going down to his house just after his kit arrived with his baggy green, his jumper and playing shirts," recalled Ponting.

 

"Just to go through the bag and touch the baggy green cap was, for me, where the dream of playing Ashes cricket really all started.

 

"To then have played with the great players I have means I have some great memories of Ashes cricket. I have a thousand Ashes memories.

 

"I think I have still got a few good years of cricket left in me. The way I am feeling at the moment body-wise and how excited I am about this series, I don't know where the finish line is for me in my career.

 

"It might be my last Ashes tour and if that is the case then so be it."

 

Ponting is one of the only four on the trip who have played Test cricket in Britain before. One of those, Brett Lee, is missing the start of the campaign which has come as a setback for the side.

 

The Australians though have refused to rule out fast bowler Lee, who has a side injury, beyond the opening contest.

 

"No-one has written off his chances of playing in the second Test just yet," said Ponting.

 

"It was a relatively minor injury on the scan but as we know with fast bowlers, and that part of the body, they can just take a little bit longer than expected.

 

"The pleasing part of the injury was he didn't feel it go at any particular time. He had some stiffness in his whole body.

 

"We will keep our fingers crossed he will be back sooner rather than later."