Formidable India always in the race, says Ponting

25 March,2009 07:54 AM IST |   |  Khalid A-H Ansari

India will finish only third, behind Australia and South Africa in the annual ICC Test rankings which end on April 1, but Ricky Ponting considers India very formidable opponents.


India will finish only third, behind Australia and South Africa in the annual ICC Test rankings which end on April 1, but Ricky Ponting considers India "very formidable" opponents.

Ponting, who will be officially handed the world championship trophy, the ICC's gold mace and two sizeable cheques in Johannesburg tonight said yesterday: "Whenever you mention rankings, you've always got to throw India into it because they're a very formidable team, mainly at home, but they're starting to put some better performances on the board away from home.

Ricky Ponting picks up the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship Mace awarded to the No 1 team in the world in Johannesburg on February 16. pic/AFP

"With the amount of talent they've got over here and the amount of players they've got to pick from, they're always going to be a very good cricket team".


ICC general manager Dave Richardson will present the Test championship trophy to Ponting at the Wanderers Club along with cheques totalling US $2,50,000 for finishing No1 in Test and No 2 in one-day internationals.

South African captain Graeme Smith will receive the one-day championship trophy and cheque, along with the ones for finishing second in Tests. England's Test ranking fell to No 6 after their recent defeat to the West Indies.
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Ricky Ponting South Africa Australia India ICC Test rankings