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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Aussies won't take Sri Lanka lightly in forthcoming clashes - Manager Bernard by RANJAN ANANDAPPA Ricky Ponting, the latest addition to the Allan Border medal list, will lead Australia for the first time in a Test match when they meet Sri Lanka in a five one-day International series and three Tests series. Ponting has been extremely cosistant and is the first player since the late Sir Donald Bradman to score three double hundreds in a year and is also a prolific scorer in the shorter version of the game too, in a calendar year. However, Ponting was not available for comments at a press briefing held yesterday at the Hotel Taj Samudra. Australian team manager Steve Bernard said that Ponting has captained Australia in one-day games but will be out for the first time captaining Australia in a Test match. "Ricky had a very good apprenticeship playing under great captain Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh they too are fine examples of how good Australian captains are", I am sure Ricky has learned a lot from them and at the same time he'll do things in his own way and I think he is a very,very good captain as he has proved in the one-day form of the game and he knows the game well and I am sure he'll be a success", said Steve Bernard the manager. Steve Bernard further said that all the players are aware of the sub-continent conditions and it is a challenge for the players to ensure that their current strategy of play which will enable to adjust their game on wickets that are bit weary in pace, height and spin what is different from we find back at home. That is one great aspect playing in different countries and different conditions and ours is a good side and we should adjust ourselves to the conditions as we find them. "Sri Lanka is a very good side and it is very difficult to beat them in their own back yard. England found it recently as we found it in 1999. We lost the one-day final and the Test series. So we are going to have a very competitive series in one-dayers and Tests their no doubt about that." Refering to the non-availability of paceman Glenn McGrath who is out from the tour party due injury and ace leg-spinner Shane Warne who is still awaiting selection for the Test series, Bernard said that Warne has not played for an year and McGrath played since last July and it is big blow for any team to lose two players who have taken 900 plus Test wickets between them. "It's a big challenge for the bowlers because what the selectors pick have to come through and do the job what they are suppose to do. You are going to retire one-day and replacements will be made. Any country must make sure that they have got a succession of players coming through as the guys have to takeover the job from the great players. |
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