Ricky Ponting: I Won't Quit

Ponting Up For The Test

Ricky Ponting has insisted he still has fight left in him and has not contemplated quitting as captain of his nation's team. Nevertheless, he may be just one test defeat away from becoming the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes

Ponting turns 36 on December 19.  He is the first to admit that he has not been at the top of his game with the bat lately and his team are struggling, trailing England 1-0 in the five-match series with three tests remaining. An England victory in the next test could see England retain the Ashes in Australia.

"My absolute focus is on all the things within my control, preparing the team and myself to perform at our very best in Perth, Melbourne and then Sydney over the next three tests," Ponting wrote in the Australian newspaper Saturday.

"I have not stopped for one moment to consider retirement. The question of my future as captain is ultimately a decision for Cricket Australia and categorically the future of Australian cricket must come first.

"I have every confidence in my ability to score runs and be the experienced batsman and leader that my teammates can rely on."

"As captain, I am accountable for the performance of my team and I accept that our most recent results mean that I am being assessed more critically than at other times in my career as captain.

"The team is my priority, not my own ego or the status that comes with being the captain of the Australian cricket team."

Ponting on his preparation and batting, added, "We've been ordinary, we've played poorly. I haven't played the way I would like to have played, especially in Adelaide, but I don't think I'm that far away.

"I've got to keep trusting the way I prepare and play and keep working hard. If anything I might have worked a bit too hard on my batting over the last couple of weeks."

First Ashes test declared a draw

Alastair Cook scores 235 runs

England duo Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott continued to clock up runs on the final day in Brisbane as the first Ashes Test festered out to a predictable draw.

England reached a milestone of runs as records tumbled at the Gabba when the tourists totalled an impressive 517-1 before declaring their second innings with a lead of 297.

Cook notched up unbeaten on 235 from 428 balls; a new career-best and a record score by any player at the ground, a record previously held by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.

While Trott chipped in with 135 not out from 266 balls during an unbroken stand of 329 that eclipsed the 307 that was totalled by Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin in Australia's first innings. Cook had hit 26 fours in his marathon knock by the time his skipper, Andrew Strauss, who himself had made 110 on day four, decided enough was enough and put the Australian bowlers out of their misery.

This is only the second time in England's history the top three batsmen have reached three figures in the same innings, the previous instance courtesy of Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond in 1924. Australia reached 107 for one when the captains decided to shake hands on a high-scoring draw.

England captain Andrew Strauss praised his side's efforts after they fought back from a poor start to finish the first Test in Brisbane on the front foot. 

"Getting out in the first over in the first Test is a pretty horrendous way to start," he said.

"We felt pretty low then and after day three we felt downbeat as well, we'd done good things and we were behind in the game.

"But we dug pretty deep and we're very happy to be nil-all. Nothing changes and both sides will come out hard in the next Test in Adelaide."

When asked about England's approach to the second innings, Strauss said: "If you just go into your shell and try and survive you play into the opposition's hands.

"If you look for scoring opportunities it creates momentum for you and once we got that momentum it became easier and easier."