Ponting targets an Ashes whitewash over England
RICKY PONTING has continued the Australian trend by admitting it’s “absolutely possible” his side can regain the Ashes with a whitewash victory this winter.
Ponting, 35, captained the Australians to a 5-0 thrashing of England when the teams last met Down Under in 2006-07 – only the second time that’s happened in 125 years of Ashes cricket.
Since then, Ponting has lost his grasp of the Ashes urn after Andrew Strauss’s England exacted revenge with a 2-1 victory on home soil last summer.
But now, in a similar vein to former fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who famously predicted whitewash victories in each of the last three series, Ponting says his side can make history once again when the 2010 campaign gets underway on 25 November.
“It’s absolutely possible [to win 5-0], there’s no reason why not,” Ponting said. “It’s all in our hands. It’s how well we play and how we take charge of different situations. We’ve learned from the mistakes we’ve made.”
Ponting admits he has been impressed with England’s recent form, but believes his side can make their home advantage count.
“We know now that we’re a more experienced and probably a better team now than we were then,” he added. “We put that together plus we’re playing in our conditions. We hope to win this series and win it well.”