Ponting confident of lifting Ashes by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	RT Ponting
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 10th August 2009

 

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is confident his side would retain Ashes after levelling the series at Headingley.

 

England had looked to be on course for success after victory at Lord's and after a strong performance at Edgbaston they looked like clear favourites, but the visitors left their hosts stunned on the first day of the fourth Test at Headingley bowling them out for 102.

 

"It's been an enjoyable week for us, obviously," he said.

 

"We've played some great cricket. I'm very proud of the guys for bouncing back and playing the way they have this week.

 

"That was some great bowling on the first day.

 

"As I said at the toss, I was going to bat as well. It didn't look like there was that much in the wicket.

 

"But there was a little bit of cloud around and I thought that if we bowled well enough we'd create some chances and all credit to our bowlers.

 

"I thought they bowled brilliantly on that first morning and that set the game up for us."

 

Ponting said that the momentum had come their way when they batted their way out of trouble on the final day of the third Test.

 

"We couldn't have asked for any more from this game," he said.

 

"I think our attitude right through the game has been spot on. We've played really hard Test match cricket and we've dominated the game from the first ball.

 

"Some of our guys are just getting better and better at the end of the series, so that's a real positive for us.

 

"We've got a lot of momentum that I feel we got out of the last day at Edgbaston. Everything's heading in the right direction."