Ponting inspired by jibes

Ricky Ponting © Getty Images

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Ricky Ponting has revealed how the “Dad’s Army” jibes spurred on Australia to regain the Ashes as quickly as possible and prove they were not a team on the wane.

Ponting was singled out for most of the harshest criticism in the aftermath of England’s shock Ashes victory in 2005, with many believing he should have been replaced as captain for this current series.

There was also a belief that Australia’s star-studded line-up were over the hill, with Adam Gilchrist, 35, Matthew Hayden, 35, Justin Langer, 36, Glenn McGrath, 36, and Shane Warne, 37, all nearing the end of their careers.

They were even labelled “Dad’s Army” by former England all-rounder Ian Botham, but after Monday’s 206 runs third Test triumph wrapped up the Ashes after just 463 days in England’s possession, Ponting revealed how the jibes had inspired their squad.

“I think we’ve all felt we had a point to prove to a lot of people coming into this series,” explained Ponting.

Ponting has been in emphatic form © Getty Images

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“Even on the eve of the first Test I heard a lot of ex-Australian players saying they didn’t think we could win this series - that’s a bit disappointing as far as I’m concerned.

“We know there was a lot of Dad’s Army things around and I think the guys concerned have definitely made it a mission to make sure they play a big part in this series.”

That has resulted in Warne moving to within one wicket of becoming the first bowler in history to claim 700 Test victims while nearly all the other older players have made a contribution at some point in the series.

Ponting stressed: “If you look at some of these guys that have been spoken about I think at different times during this series they have been magnificent.

“There hasn’t been any talk when some of these players are even thinking about retiring so I’ve got no idea when that’s going to happen, but as far as I’m concerned hopefully that’s a long way off yet.

“This current group of players I’ve played all my career with and it’s going to be a sad day when it happens.”

Ponting also admitted that a meeting in Melbourne between the squad just a few days after their arrival back from England spurred them on to improve as players.

It prompted the recruitment of bowling coach Troy Cooley from England while Mike Young, their part-time fielding coach, became a regular member of the coaching set-up.

“If anyone has watched us train and prepare over the last 12 or 14 months, it’s probably a little bit different to the way it was before then and I know now that we’re going into Test matches as well prepared as we possibly can,” said Ponting.

“As far as I’m concerned that’s where all this cricket we’re playing now started. There was a burning passion and desire among the boys to make themselves and the team better in everything that we do and I think that’s coming through in our cricket.

“We’ve been really tough in tough moments. We’ve managed to get through those tough moments really well and if there has been a moment where we’ve been behind we’ve been able to turn it into a positive moment in the game.

“That’s one thing that’s always been the strength of this team as long as I’ve been in the team. Whenever we’ve had the initiative this time we’ve really capitalised on that and not given England a sniff.”