Coach backs Ponting for Ashes
Australia coach Mickey Arthur Tuesday backed veteran batsman Ricky
Ponting to be a key figure in next year's Ashes series in England,
saying the former skipper was “not going anywhere”.
Australia are fresh from a successful 2-0 tour of the West Indies but
Michael Clarke's men have no further Tests until their home series
against South Africa in November.
Ponting was dumped from Australia's one-day international squad in
February, meaning he will not be playing much cricket in the lead-up to
South Africa.But Arthur moved to quash speculation that the 37-year-old
champion run-maker could be leaving the team.
“I know there was a lot of media pressure and talk around Ricky, but
Ricky's not going anywhere,” Arthur said on his return from the West
Indies.
“We hope Ricky's scoring enough runs to go to the Ashes in England.
“Ricky is definitely no way considering retiring, I wouldn't have
thought from my conversations with him, and he'll be fit and ready to go
against South Africa.”
AFP
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