Ponting Into Politics rather than Cricket Before Ashes Opener

September 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Despite suffering a humiliating Ashes defeat and facing several ups and downs during his captaincy in the recent past, Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes that he has achieved a lot as the skipper of the Oz team. Regretting the two consecutive Ashes defeats in England, Ponting said his record still speaks for his performance.

September 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said he enjoyed the England tour despite it being a tough one. Ponting described the tour as one of the most enjoyable visit for him despite suffering a shocking defeat in the Ashes.

September 13th, 2009 LONDON - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has made it clear he wants to return to England for the 2013 Ashes. Ponting said that having made the decision to retire from Twenty20 cricket internationally, he was hopeful about prolonging his Test career and making it to the 2013 Ashes squad.

August 5th, 2009 BIRMINGHAM - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes he has unlocked the secret to pace bowler Mitchell Johnson - keep him away from the new ball. There are encouraging signs that Johnson is starting to turn his horror Ashes tour around.

August 4th, 2009 WARWICKSHIRE - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting believes England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff dodgy knee may not see him take part in the remaining two Ashes tests. Ponting could not help crowing over Flintoff's discomfort on the final day of the third test, when the latter could bowl only eleven overs.

July 8th, 2009 CARDIFF - Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in Cardiff to support Australia as the Ashes commences today. According to the Courier Mail, Howard has arrived with his wife Janette and has met the team and the selectors.

July 8th, 2009 LONDON - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced squad to create its own Ashes legend following the upheaval of several retirements and injuries to senior men, including Brett Lee. Ponting's Australians have been preparing for the Ashes series for the last six months, during which they have rebuilt their team after seasoned players -Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Damien Martin and Glenn McGrath- retired from international cricket.

July 7th, 2009 LONDON - In the absence of an injured Brett Lee, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced fast bowlers to become Ashes heroes. Australia's Ashes defence campaign suffered a major blow as Lee, making a comeback from an ankle injury, was ruled out of the first Test at Cardiff starting Wednesday after he pulled an abdominal muscle.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - With just five days left for the Ashes, Australian captain Ricky Ponting again made it clear that he is not happy with John Buchanan's decision to join the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as an adviser. "I just hope I don't see him with an England jumper on.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Ricky Ponting might be disappointed with John Buchanan's new job as an advisor in the English board, but the former Australian coach will be backing Ponting to win the Ashes. Buchanan said that Ponting can lead the team to a win in the series and atone for their loss in 2005.

June 18th, 2009 LEICESTER - England will get a massive boost with the return of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to the Test squad ahead of the Ashes series, claims Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Talismanic all-rounder Flintoff, 31, is recovering from a knee surgery.

June 10th, 2009 LONDON - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is backing veteran batsman Mike Hussey and fast bowler Brett Lee to find their best form in time for the Ashes. Ponting says he is satisfied with Hussey's efforts so far on the tour.

May 31st, 2009 MELBOURNE - Skipper Ricky Ponting insists that Australia will use the Ashes series to show it is still the most intimidating force in world cricket. The Australian captain is adamant Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus showed during the recent Test series victory in South Africa that they can cope with the pressure of tough opposition in a hostile environment.

May 30th, 2009 LONDON - The war for Ashes 2009 has begun with Australian captain Ricky Ponting firing the first salvo, questioning whether England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be any good this summer. Flintoff underwent knee surgery in April and has not yet started running properly.

May 27th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said next month's Twenty20 championship would have little or no impact on the hotly debated bowling line-up for the first Test against England. Australia is scheduled to play four-day matches against Sussex in Hove and then the second-tier England Lions in Worcester in the days leading up to the first Test at Sophia Gardens, which starts on July 8.