Captain Strauss is target for Ashes, admits Ponting
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has begun the mind games ahead of this summer’s Ashes series by admitting his side will target England skipper Andrew Strauss.
Strauss struggled to contain the Australian pace attack during the tour Down Under in 2006-07, averaging 24.70 in a series in which England were whitewashed 5-0.
But since taking over as captain from Kevin Pietersen back in December, the Middlesex left-hander has rediscovered his form with the bat and taken his career average up to 43.96 with 17 Test centuries to his name.
Australia announce their squad for the Ashes today with pace duo Brett Lee and Stuart Clark both expected to be named. Lee dismissed Strauss three times in the 2006-07 series, while Clark got his man on four occasions.
Now Ponting is plotting the opener’s downfall once again in order to avenge their infamous series defeat in England back in 2005. “He’s an important player for them,” Ponting said of his counterpart. “We had the better of him out here in Australia last time, we had him under a lot of pressure and it’s important that we start the series off the same way against them over there.”
Ponting, however, admits he has been impressed with England’s form in the build-up to the first Test in Cardiff on 8 July, and accepts his side are in for a tough contest.
He added: “They’ve been pretty relentless and ruthless in making West Indies follow on in both Test matches. I’ve said for a while they’ll shape up as a good side.”