da betway： Ricky Ponting hopes one of Australia’s most comprehensive victories inrecent times can help them maintain their one-day hold over Sri Lanka
Brydon Coverdale at the SCG08-Feb-2008
Ricky Ponting: “To have a comprehensive victory like that at the start of a one-day series is always good and hopefully we can stay on top of them for the rest of the series.” © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting hopes one of Australia’s most comprehensive victories inrecent times can help them maintain their one-day hold over Sri Lanka, whohave won only one of the past eight meetings between the sides. NathanBracken’s best ODI figures confirmed the 128-run win but Ponting saidthere were no weak links anywhere in his side’s performance and his menhad adjusted ideally to the slow SCG pitch.Sri Lanka had plenty of regrets, however, and Mahela Jayawardene said theplayers faced some home truths in a lengthy team meeting after the game.”We had quite a few things to discuss, especially the way we battedtoday,” Jayawardene said. “It’s something that keeps happening to us thelast six months. In certain situations we haven’t adapted well.”Jayawardene was critical of his players’ shot selection and conceded hisown dismissal was one of the ugliest. However, Australia’s ability to varytheir attack was crucial as Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for51.Bracken came back with cutters after a short opening spell of swingbowling, which was important on a pitch that didn’t offer significantpace, and Ponting was also pleased with his other bowlers. “I knew thatNathan would do a good job through the middle of the innings,” Pontingsaid, “which is why he only bowled his three up the top.”Mitchell Johnson bowled probably as well as he has bowled for Australia.We’ve got lots and lots of options and a lot of those are moresuited to these sort of conditions that we’ve had here tonight.”Brett Lee picked up the important early wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya, whomisjudged the pace and played on, and Johnson’s five overs cost only nineruns and frustrated Jayawardene into a loose drive that he edgedbehind. Brad Hogg chipped in with a wicket and James Hopes kept thingstight, but Ponting also praised his batsmen after they posted 6 for 253.Michael Clarke did not lose his cool despite being denied boundaries andhe finished unbeaten on 73, while Adam Gilchrist was uncharacteristicallycautious in his 61. “That was a very complete performance,” Ponting said.”The wicket wasn’t easy to bat on, it was pretty two-paced and there was afew bouncing a bit more than expected so that sort of total I thought wasalways going to be competitive.”Jayawardene said Australia’s batsmen had simply adjusted to the conditionsbetter than Sri Lanka but he hoped they could put the thrashing behindthem before their next game against Australia at the WACA next Friday. “Wedon’t want the line-up to be too negative because we’ve got a verytalented group of players,” he said. “We just need to make sure they gettheir heads in the right place.”Ponting said it would be difficult for Sri Lanka to fight back after sucha one-sided game in the first match between the sides since the World Cupfinal. “We’ve dominated them a lot [recently] so tonight was another stepforward for us,” Ponting said. “To have a comprehensive victory like thatat the start of a one-day series is always good and hopefully we can stayon top of them for the rest of the series.”