Ponting targets England batsmen as Ashes cold war begins
It is the time for the start of the verbal battle for the greatest prize in Test cricket, the Ashes series contested by the oldest two rivals England and Australia.
The battle resumes in Australia next month with the opening Test match of the five match series, set to start at the Gabba in Brisbane on the 25th of November.
With just over a month to go the Australian skipper has begun his traditional softening of the opponents by claiming that the POMS would be in for a struggle.
He has targeted the mainstay of the English batting line-up, Kevin Pietersen, and, Alastair Cook he thinks that the duo is in for a struggle Down Under.
"Kevin Pietersen, obviously, is a big question mark for them at the moment", Ponting told media. "Alastair Cook is just holding on to his spot by the skin of his teeth, and [Paul] Collingwood has probably not had the best Test summer
of his life either. So there is enough happening around there to know that they will be a little nervous when they arrive in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746".
The flamboyant Pietersen had a poor series at home against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, the tall middle-order batsman averaged a meager 27.25 in four innings.
The South Africa born batsman, who played his initial cricket in the African nation hasn't scored a century in 19 months.
On the other hand the left handed opening batsman Alastair Cook had been under extreme pressure after a prolonged poor run in the longest format of the game.
He earned a reprieve after a smashing back-against-the-wall 110 against Pakistan during the third Test match at the Oval.
Besides these two the onus to perform is also on Paul Collingwood the right handed batsman, whose form has dipped significantly since an outstanding run in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 last winter.
Just like Cook and Pietersen, Collingwood struggled in the series against Pakistan where the bowling duo of Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif had the English batsmen in trouble.
Meanwhile, the Australian captain claimed that despite the lack of form in the batting department the English bowling attack can pose a major threat to his team once the battle gets underway at the Gabba.
Ponting added that off spinner Graeme Swann and fast bowler Stuart Broad were the two bowlers that the hosts had to guard against during the series.
"They have some good players in their side at the moment, which is playing well", Ponting said. "Graeme Swann is probably the stand out. Stuart Broad, and probably their captain [Andrew Strauss], these have been the guys, who have
stood up for them over the last couple of years. But they have certainly been the more consistent team than any English team I have played against in the past".
Ponting also thinks that playing the opening Test match at Brisbane has been a lucky charm for the hosts, as opposition has generally found it extremely tough to encounter the pace and bounce on the track.
"We all know how hard opposition teams find it coming to Australia, and particularly starting at the Gabba, they always find it a difficult place to win. So as an Australian, and an Australian captain, we are hoping for a very similar
series to the last one".
One of the greats of the game Ponting added that he has the motivation and determination to succeed in both Ashes and the 50 overs World Cup that is set to take place in the Sub-continent next year.
"There is no doubt about that. I mean, I would have not worked as hard as I have over the last eight weeks if the hunger wasn't there", he said. "I am as excited about the next period of cricket, with the Ashes and then the World Cup
at the end of that, so that is about six or seven months of biggest cricket tournaments that you ever play".
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