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| June 15, 2005 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1426 |
Twenty20 result no guide for Tests, says Ponting
SOUTHAMPTON (England), June 14: Rival captains Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan both played down the impact of England’s 100-run Twenty20 win against Australia here Monday, each man stressing it was no indication of how either the one-day series or the Ashes would pan out.
Ponting in particular insisted it would be a different Australia side that took the field for its triangular series openers against Bangladesh and England this weekend in Cardiff and Bristol respectively.
“I think it’s that sort of game Twenty20. So much happens that wouldn’t normally happen in a 50-over game so I don’t think the result of today’s game will do them any good and probably won’t do us any harm,” Ponting told reporters after Monday’s Rose Bowl rout.
Australia, chasing 180 to win, were bowled out for 79 in just 14.3 overs with only Jason Gillespie (24), Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee (both 15) making it into double figures.
All-rounder Paul Collingwood led England to a total of 179 for eight with 46 off 26 balls before taking two for eight with his medium-pacers.
Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis, on his senior international debut, took four for 24 while veteran quick Darren Gough, who took two wickets in two balls, finished with three for 16.
It was a dramatic start to Twenty20 international cricket for England, now ranked number two in the world Test rankings behind their oldest foes.
And it was also their second successive one-day win against Australia after a six-wicket success in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston in September.
“It’s not the ideal start for us,” added Ponting, whose side came into the game, played in front of a 15,000 capacity crowd, on the back of a 95-run thrashing of Leicestershire.
“Not much went right. We got behind in our overs so we had to rush everything through from there.
“And the batting was very ordinary,” said the Tasmanian, one of three Australian batsman out for nought.
“Every time it went in the air it went straight to a fielder and there were some poor shots mixed in there as well for us. It was a pretty ordinary day for us. England just outplayed us everywhere.”
Ponting, whose team now have a chance to regroup against Somerset in Taunton on Wednesday, insisted the only long-term impact of the Twenty20 would be a positive one for Australia. “It will hopefully make us a bit more determined the next time we play against them (England).
“It was just one of those games. We are not going to worry too much about it. It was obviously a very ordinary start for us.”—AFP
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