Ponting targeting Strauss scalp
Andrew Strauss will expect a tough test against Australia
Also In The News
|
England have regained the Wisden Trophy after beating the West Indies by an innings and 83 runs to seal a 2-0 victory in the Test series. |  |
Tuesday, 19, May 2009 09:34
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has revealed his side will target his opposite number Andrew Strauss in the Ashes series.
The Aussies have always made a habit of targeting the England captain during an Ashes series, but this time Strauss will be under even more pressure as he failed miserably in the series in Australia two years ago.
Strauss only averaged 24.70 in that series and though he has batted well since being made captain, Ponting felt that if they could get on top of Strauss, then it would affect the rest of the team.
"He's an important player for them," Ponting said. "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.
"And as we all know the Australian team tries to target the captain a little bit and put the captain of opposition teams under a bit more pressure, and if you can do that you can generally take another couple of guys down with him and that's what we'll be trying to do."
Ponting has been at the fore-front of an Australian team which has dominated the world game for over a decade. The 34-year-old has become one of the greatest batsmen ever during this time and has already hit 37 Test hundreds.
But the Aussie skipper admitted that he still had one major ambition to fulfil and that was to lead his side to an Ashes win in England – something which he has never done before.