Punter warns Strauss and Afridi

He's starting early in the 'mind games' department for the Ashes but is scathing of Afridi's credentials in the test arena.

SYDNEY - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has warned his England counterpart Andrew Strauss that his team will be far better prepared for the Ashes series, starting in November.

England currently holds the Ashes, after beating Australia 2-1 in 2009.

“I don’t think they’ll be much different, I think if they get back to full strength they’ll have [James] Anderson, [Graeme] Onions, there was talk of [Steve] Harmison being involved again - I think their side could be identical to what it was during the last series,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

“What will be different with us though is we’ve got another 10, 12 to 15 Test matches under the belt of some of our young guys who were probably found wanting at different times throughout the last series.”

“That is certainly what we’ve been working on, giving those guys exposure and letting them work their own way through different situations at Test level. I think all the guys have come through the last 12 months with flying colours. If England bring the same side out they’ll meet a different Australian team, for sure,” he added.

The 35-year-old also fired a shot at Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi ahead of the Test series in England, saying that the all-rounder has been promoted for his leadership credentials rather than playing ability.

“He hasn’t played a lot of Test cricket of late, if you read between the lines he’s almost in there as a leader and captain, not necessarily one of their best Test players,” Ponting said.

“We will test him out. I think even with our one-dayers in Australia last [summer] with our quicks bowling the way they did to him, I think we can sort him out in Test cricket, that’s for sure,” he added. (ANI)

Phurt, Drunky is sh!t at the mind games compared to the great SRW. Opposing captains just snigger at Drunky's ramblings.

"Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has warned his England counterpart Andrew Strauss that his team will be far better prepared for the Ashes series, starting in November."

What a farkin indictment on Nielsen.

Journo's trying to make a story out of nothing . . .whodathunkit . . .

Nothing to see here, move on.

“I don’t think they’ll be much different, I think if they get back to full strength they’ll have [James] Anderson, [Graeme] Onions, there was talk of [Steve] Harmison being involved again - I think their side could be identical to what it was during the last series,”

No talk of the threat posed by super Timmy Bres?

He'll eat all our pies and drink all our beer.

He's starting early in the 'mind games' department ...

Now there's a paradox if ever there was one!
Anatomically speaking - Ponting first needs a single brain cell (transplants don't count) before he can even begin to contemplate playing "mind games" ...

You dare to suggest he even has one!
An insane assumption.

Afridi's test record is actually pretty good.

Henry wrote:Afridi's test record is actually pretty good.

Lordy. In 12 years, he's only played 2 Tests v Aus.

And he took a 5fer in one of them.

wasnt that his first test?

his record is pretty well padded up with some easy runs and wickets at home

Henry wrote:And he took a 5fer in one of them.

He had stamina back then. He was only 12 in 1998.

Phurt. He's only 16 now. Hardly over the hill.......

Henry wrote:Phurt. He's only 16 now. Hardly over the hill.......

The man makes a good point.

Instructions to ground staff at Lord's when Pak take to the field -

Hide all the gas cannisters and have some soil on hand to fill in the danced-in divots on the wicket.

Afridi - what a fookin' joke.

skully wrote:He'll eat all our pies and drink all our beer.

Better looking than your average Aussie too.

Seconded.

Hehehe, have a go at the two old limey toffs yankin' each other's c0cks.

See Baz, told you so .... it's as easy as England winning/retaining the Ashes with Punter at the Aussies helm ...

Hehehe.