Ponting blames inexperience for South Africa defeat
Ponting: South Africa defeat highlights inexperience
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Wednesday, 31, Dec 2008 10:48
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has admitted the Test series defeat to South Africa has highlighted the inexperience within his team.
Speaking after defeat in the Melbourne Test, which saw the hosts slump to their first home series defeat since 1992, Ponting said Australia hadn't been able to take their opportunities in either game and the defeats have revealed a number of problem areas.
"We've had our opportunities in both Tests and when the big moments came up we haven't been good enough to put the nails in the coffin," he said.
"When we have been confronted with good sides like India and South Africa a lot of our deficiencies and inexperience has raised its head."
The Aussie captain claimed his team was in the process of a "generation change" and would now have to work hard on improving their cricket.
"Normally when we're confronted with some really big challenges is normally when we stand up and play our best cricket but that's been missing over the last couple of weeks," he added.
South Africa will replace Australia as the number one ranked team in the world if they win the third and final Test at the SCG this weekend.
The hosts will also have to make do without Shane Watson, Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds, all of whom will miss the game due to injury.
Lee confirmed he would be undergoing an operation on a foot injury on Saturday and could be out of action for between six and eight weeks.
Ponting, however, said he was confident that even if Australia lost their number one ranking, they would reclaim sometime in the future.
"At the moment we're still number one, they [South Africa] have to beat us in Sydney to take that mantle from us," he said.
"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."