Ponting - We're still No.1

Defeated skipper aiming to cling on to top spot

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 30th December 2008  

Ponting - We're still No.1

Ponting: Defeated

The gap between our best cricket and our worst cricket has been too big.

Ricky Ponting
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Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is confident his side can hold onto their number one ranking in Test cricket, despite losing the series to South Africa in Melbourne.

The Proteas won the second Test with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory at the MCG, Hashim Amla hitting the winning runs to condemn Australia to their first home series defeat in 16 years.

As well as losing their proud home record, the Baggy Greens now stand just one defeat away from relinquishing their 13-year reign as Test cricket's top-ranked nation.

A defeat in the third Test in Sydney to Graeme Smith's side will see South Africa clinch top spot, however Ponting insists his side won't surrender their proud record without a fight.

"At the moment we're still number one, they have to beat us in Sydney to take that mantle from us," he said.

Dominate

"That's the way that ranking system works but I'm probably sure if you knocked on their door they'll say they're the number one team at the moment.

"We've dominated world cricket for a long period of time. I'm still very positive and very sure with some of the young guys coming on that in a few years' time that we can get back up there and be dominating world cricket again.

"A lot of players in the team aren't accustomed to losing Test matches let alone Test series.

"The gap between our best cricket and our worst cricket has been too big, and we have to make that smaller if we want to win the next Test and if we want to stay in that top group of Test-playing nations."

Ponting also conceded that Australia had been guilty of throwing away commanding positions in both Perth and Melbourne, and that ultimately proved decisive.

"Getting 247 runs in the second innings was nowhere near enough," he said.

Lee injured

"With a 60-run deficit going into our second innings we had another opportunity to post a very big total to turn it into a close game of Test match cricket but it didn't turn out that way.

"What's happened in this series is generally what Australia have done to teams in the past.

"When big moments have come up we've grabbed it with both hands, turned a negative very much into a positive and been able to go on and win games."

Strike bowler Brett Lee also confirmed that he will miss the final Test at the SCG after opting to go under the knife to cure a nagging foot injury.

"It looks as if I will possibly have to have surgery on Saturday," said Lee.

"There is a bit going on at the back of my foot as well so I'm thinking if I'm going to be out for six to eight weeks with a foot injury I may as well get the whole of the ankle fixed.

"There's a bit of a crack in there a bit of loose bone so I though I may as well get it all fixed up and hopefully come back bigger and better."

Comments (7)

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Samodien Mohamed sedick says...

I have noticed that even when australia plays a test match against a low in order country and a wicket is taken, bret lee and his croonies become ecstatic, jump for joy, hug each other like they just conquered the world. What a bunch of (Drama Queens). I still say that the (West Indies) were the best there were. On the field of play, they showed power, strength and dominance in the game. Off the field, this outfit demanded respect and showed they were a down to earth cricket nation whom every one were excited to see play. Those whom they conquered had so much respect for them, that they could not even dislike them, let alone hate them. The green bags never had and will never ever earn that respect showed to the windies from any cricket nation. They are just an arrogant, bitter outfit that wants everything for themselves and can never accept defeat the way it was done by India and now South Arica. Sorry Ponting, the Proteas are no.1, Australia no.3 behind India who to me is justifiably no.2.

Posted 14:06 2nd January 2009

Dennis Hart says...

They(Australia) seem to have a major problem.They will not accept when they are beaten.First India and now SA.The Aussies interviewed after the MCG Test kept on bringing up the fact that they had players that were injured.They've had a brilliant run, but nothing lasts forever. SA played an ouststanding game (in both Tests) and deserved their victories.The era of Australia being the best has past,as it did with the Windies.Who now SA or India?

Posted 22:20 30th December 2008

Gerald Audis says...

I disagree with what Ponting says. I think Australia would struggle to beat most Test sides at the moment. Lee and Hayden are has-beens and with no spinner the Baggy Green's have no chance!

Posted 15:59 30th December 2008

Sathish Reddy says...

I have seen many champions tunures end and always with some amount of sadness. Mostly because they have been humble in their glory and quite effusive about their successors. Not with Australia. I can seem to appreciate SA's rise as much as the Aussie downfall. I dont say this because India is a pretender with SA. I say this because I have been stunned to see the arrogance and grandiocity exhibited by Aussies, epitomised by the present captain and many of their present cricketers, time and time again. A lot of ordinariness got carried on by the team's overall brilliance, but it never led to introspection.It was almost as if they would never be defeated. NEVER. Thank god they lost. This is a lesson for future champions. I am more than happy that this Aussie team has hit mother earth hard. And like the other cotributer wrote " Hey ponting you better smell the coffee now, Bangladesh might be fancying their chances otherwise.

Posted 15:18 30th December 2008

Amrendra Kumar says...

Mr Punter still dreaming to be number one,one thing he should learn to be humble in the game of cricket like Graeme Smith. He doesn't want to learn from his mistakes. Australia need to build up their team and Ponting is no more a good leader. Selectors should think twice that it is now the worst Australian bowling attack in two decades.

Posted 14:46 30th December 2008

Dustin Meintjes says...

No longer will touring sides fear what once seemed the impossible - going Down Under. No longer will the thought of an Australian bowling attack send shivers down the spine of an unsuspecting middle order batsman. No longer will the great Australian top order sow seeds of doubt in the mind of an off-spin debutant. No longer will an Australian outfit dictate terms to an opposing captain. Welcome to a team once asked to make 22 runs off 1 ball. Welcome to a team once told by an Australian captain that they'd dropped the World Cup. Welcome to a team that endured the rise and fall of their Captain. Welcome to a team once labeled Chokers. Welcome to a team that has given hope to every other Test playing nation in the world. Welcome to the RAINMAKERS.

Posted 13:49 30th December 2008

Anthony Marsh says...

thrashed by india now thrashed by south africa number one i think not mr. ponting wake up and smell the coffee number three at best happy new year australia get used to losing ho ho ho

Posted 12:18 30th December 2008
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