Ponting’s ‘message’ charges up Aussies

By Sunit Kaul

New Delhi

Oct. 27: There is no mistaking the sense of urgency and determination being shown by the Australians in the lead-up to the third Test.

With 48 hours to go before their Kotla tryst, backs are being bent with every ball sent down during training and every stroke hit, speaking of the team's intensity.

Stung by the reversal in Mohali, Australia are determined not to repeat their follies again.

And just to ensure that they do not run out of motivation midway, skipper Ricky Ponting's strongly-worded message to the team might just be enough to keep them on their toes.

The Australia captain hauled up the side during team meetings on Sunday evening and Monday morning, asking them to shape up and accept more responsibility come Wednesday, according to coach Tim Nielsen.

"Look he obviouly has had to assume a more agressive posture now. It's pretty normal for him to give the boys a nice little dressing down just to get them back on track," Nielsen told this newspaper.

"He told the senior guys at the top to assume a more dominant role... guys like Haydos (Matthew Hayden) and Pup (Michael Clarke) need to deliver.

"We sampled a bit of Indian agression in the last Test, but it's important for us not forget what we do best - we are not letting outside influences affect us," he added.

Judging by the heightened level of intensity with which the Australians trained on the day, it seems Ponting's talk has borne fruit.

Brett Lee bowled his heart out and the skipper himself had an extended batting session.

Steve Waugh, who attended the nets, summed it up perfectly. "Looking at their practice session this morning, all of them look battle-ready."

Ponting has already warned the home team of an Aussie backlash undermining the Indian brand of reverse swing that led to the side's 320-run mauling in the second Test.

The tourists, in fact, have been pretty vocal in passing on the same message over the last few days, India's history at the Ferozshah Kotla notwithstanding.

After Hayden's turn at taking potshots at Zaheer Khan's ability to handle pressure a day before, it was Clarke's turn on Monday. "We did everything possible yesterday and today. We are not really concerned about India's record here, that is for them to see to.

"We know that we can came back hard and put India on the mat," the Australian vice-captain said.