Ponting savours epic win

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey enjoy Australia's moment of triumph © Getty Images

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Captain Ricky Ponting hailed Australia’s thrilling victory over England in the second Test as the best of his career.

England posted a mammoth 551 for six declared in the first innings but Australia fought back to limit the deficit to just 38 thanks to centuries from Ponting and Michael Clarke.

Shane Warne put on a superb exhibition of leg-spin on the final day to claim 4-49, helping to bowl England out for 129 and set up a six-wicket win late in the last session.

“We’ve seen enough games of Test cricket to know you have to do something exceptionally well to be able to turn the course of a Test match around that way," said Ponting.

“There was no doubt we were a long way behind after day two but we spoke about lots of different things and we all thought we had a chance of winning the Test match.

“We had a lot of hard work to do to achieve that, but we’ve done that and we’ve ended up winning the game. It’s one of the all-time great Test wins as far as I’m concerned.

Shane Warne toasts his decisive four-wicket haul in Adelaide © Getty Images

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“Our cricket over the last three days has been as good Test match cricket as you will ever see from any team - that’s why I said it’s the greatest Test win I’ve known.

“They have worked exceptionally hard in the last few weeks and to turn it into a winning position was an amazing effort. The bowlers should take a bow for how they got us back into the game."

Ponting reserved special praise for the display of Warne, who conceded just 29 runs in 27 overs in bowling unchanged from the Cathedral End on the fifth day to spread panic in the England ranks.

“If there’s a game on the line then you just won’t get the ball out of Warney’s hand,” Ponting added. “He just keeps lifting himself and getting himself up.

“He wants to bowl at the best players and wants to be the man that gets those players out.

“He stood up again and I said to him after the game that he’s changed the course of this Test match and could even be the summer with that spell of bowling today.”