The Hindu : Sport : Ponting sounds confident

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Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Ponting sounds confident

Champions Trophy has eluded Australia

— PHOTO: AP

Ricky Ponting.

MOHALI: Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident that his World champion team will be successful in its fifth attempt and clinch the ICC Champions Trophy.

Winners of the last two World Cups, in 1999 and 2003, Australia has stumbled in its bid to secure the Champions Trophy in four previous tournaments.

The title has eluded Australia for the past eight years, even though it has remained the top-ranked team in the world.

The biennial Champions Trophy is the cricket's second biggest limited-overs tournament, having grown from a knockout event into a month-long competition.

Great challenge

``There's no excuses now for us, we have a good team and it will be a great challenge,'' Ponting said in the wake of Australia's six-wicket victory over India on Sunday night.

Defending champion the West Indies shocked Australia in the opening match when Jerome Taylor recorded a hat-trick at Mumbai.

However, Ponting's squad rallied in style and defeated Ashes rival England and host India to top Group A.

``Looking at the way we've played in the last couple of games I think we will play better this time around,'' Ponting said.

Australia plays New Zealand in the first semifinal here on Wednesday.

``It will be a big game against New Zealand and a great challenge for all of us,'' Ponting said. ``They just enjoy playing good cricket and the conditions we are playing in here suit them a little bit as well.

``It will be a great contest, no doubt about it.''

India could muster only 249 for eight and failed to challenge a strong Australian batting line-up. — AP

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