He knows it’s got under our skins and I’ve had enough of
Posted in General on 07. Sep, 2010
He knows it’s got under our skins and I’ve had enough of it, and I let him know that, and most of his players too.”After going 2-1 down with just next week’s Oval Test to go, Ponting admitted Australia have to improve quickly if they are to save the Ashes “There’s no option now,” he said. “It is within the rules, it’s just not within the spirit of the game which we are trying to uphold. [The England coach Duncan] Fletcher has known all through the summer this is something we haven’t been happy with, but it’s continued. “It is an absolute disgrace the spirit of the game is being treated like that,” Ponting said in a radio interview after the game. I sit in there for an hour at a time and I will be doing this twice a day for the next few days.I will be doing everything I can to get in that side for the fifth Test Everything is on this game A win or a draw and the Ashes are ours. We want them, we haven’t had them for a while and they are going to be ours.. Ricky Ponting, despite being almost £4,000 out of pocket because of his petulance after he was run out during the fourth Test, has continued to criticise England’s use of substitute fielders during the Ashes series.
37 BEHIND.Knew the foot wasn’t right so didn’t join in in the morning, but watching was no easier today than it was yesterday I feel just as useless. But we now have a world-class bowling attack and I was backing our boys to nail them. It was a slow pitch, but we have a lot of experience and they know how to be patient. I knew we were going to bowl them out and then knock the runs off. Well, I thought we were, anyway.It was our plan to be positive 129 in 40 overs was always gettable. It looked OK whilst Tres and Straussy were there, but things then started to happen. They bowled well and the pressure grew.I couldn’t watch, especially when the wickets started tumbling.
I was in one of the back rooms having treatment before I had to get my kit on, and then I hid in the other back room. Whenever there was a roar one of the boys ran to the balcony to tell me, Vaughny and the boys what was going on.When Geraint was out I had to get my pads on. Straussy was going to run for me, he is the only sane one in the dressing-room At times it was too much for the other boys to watch. I was backing us until Hoggy went in but then I thought, “Shit, here we go”. There were only two of us left after in him, and I was thinking, “Bloody hell, this could be hard work, I’m one of them”.I was crapping my pants as I waited to bat, but Harmy was worse than me because he was next in. It was an unbelievably nerve-racking time, one I don’t want to relive.Bloody hell Hoggy’s just driven Lee through extra cover Go on the ball, get over the line What a top shot. To nail him through the covers when he’s bowling at 95 mph was great It took us to within four of victory.
Surely now we must get home.The boys went mad when Ash clipped Warnie for two. Great scenes in the dressing-room with everybody hugging each other and cheering on the balcony Thank God it’s over. We are 2-1 up; yes, 2-1 up against Australia.The boys cracked open the beer, wine and champagne, although I am not drinking. I’m on a drinking ban for a week to give my ankle the best chance of recovery. The majority of the Aussies came up to our dressing-room and I had a chat with Hayden, Lee, Kasprowicz and Pigeon (Glenn McGrath) They are a smashing bunch of lads and we get on well.