da brdice： BRISBANE – Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist expect some tough questionsto be answered during a busy nine-month examination of Australia’s Testand one-day cricket sides.
Wayne Heming25-Aug-2002BRISBANE – Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist expect some tough questionsto be answered during a busy nine-month examination of Australia’s Testand one-day cricket sides.One-day captain Ponting, who will interchange the leadership with Testskipper Steve Waugh, was buoyant about Australia’s long-term future onthe eve of his team’s departure for the triangular series with Pakistanand host Kenya and next month’s 12-nation ICC Champions Trophy in SriLanka.Coming off its longest break from international cricket in almost adecade, Australia will be keen to avoid a repeat its only previous visitto Kenya when it was knocked out in its first match of the ChampionsTrophy by India.During the next nine months Australia will also play three Tests againstPakistan, host an Ashes series with England and a triangular one-dayseries against England and Sri Lanka before defending its World Cuptitle in South Africa in February and touring the West Indies.For the one-day side, Ponting would love to see youngster Shane Watsonclaim the all-rounder’s cap as his own and he believes 20-year-oldQueensland spinner Nathan Hauritz can confirm his arrival, not just as along-term Test player, but also a valuable one-day performer.It is also a chance for speedster Brett Lee to show he can not only bowllike lightning but can also bowl in miserly fashion when required.And it is a chance for Matthew Hayden to cement a one-day opening roleby showing he can score and score quickly in the limited overs game.Ponting said it was difficult to say whether Australia’s one-day battingor bowling had been stronger during the previous 12 months.”But it’s up to all of us to improve as individuals to make sure whenthe bigger tournaments come round that we are playing well andperforming at our best,” said Ponting.The skipper said Hauritz had been “unbelievably cool” when bowling tosome world-class players whyen called up in South Africa earlier in theyear.”I think he has a very big future for us, not only in one day cricketbut he’s also named in the Test squad which is great for him,” saidPonting.”I think we’re looking for Shane [Watson] to do a little more.”It could just take a game where he goes out and backs himself and itall comes off for him where he gets some runs and take some wickets andhe starts believing in himself at the highest level.”Gilchrist agreed there would be plenty of opportunities for new playersto make statements to selectors.”There’s no hiding that some careers are coming towards an end,” saidthe Test vice-captain.”It starts with a bit of revenge against Pakistan I guess and thenthere’s the Champions Trophy which Australia has never won which is highon the agenda.”Then there’s the obvious ones like Ashes and World Cups and a tour ofthe West Indies.””It’s an exciting time with plenty up for grabs.