Master Ponting squares up to apprentice Tonge

Australia master batsman Ricky Ponting comes face to face with West Indies apprentice bowler Gavin Tonge in an ICC Champions Trophy clash today where the outcome appears a foregone conclusion.

Master Ponting squares up to apprentice Tonge

Australia master batsman Ricky Ponting comes face to face with West Indies apprentice bowler Gavin Tonge in an ICC Champions Trophy clash today where the outcome appears a foregone conclusion. It is not so much a question of whether the Australians will win but by how much.

Ponting may have a tongue as sharp as his bat, but he refuses to write off their first opponents. "The West Indies will get the respect they deserve from us. There is nothing we can do about the contractual dispute," he said.

Tasmania-born right hander Ponting is a cricket legend having scored more ODI runs than any other Australian in a 123-cap career that began against South Africa 14 years ago. He assumed the captaincy of the 50-over team in 2002 and has led Australia to the pinnacle of the game twice with World Cup triumphs in South Africa and the West Indies.

Tonge is a much more recent arrival on the international scene, making his debut just two months ago against Bangladesh and failing to capture a single wicket. However, two days ago the 26-year-old Antiguan leapt out of obscurity with 4-25 against Pakistan, who won by five wickets after the West Indies were dismissed for 133 runs.

Tonge could not speak highly enough of the pitch at the Wanderers. "Hopefully it will be behaving the same way when we meet Australia. I will put the ball on the same spot and let the pitch do the same. Hopefully, it will be doing the same thing again."

By "same thing" he means being a "very, very good pitch for fast bowling".