Leeds, August 08: Austrlian skipper Ricky Ponting has conceded he would gleefully take a series draw to cling on to the Ashes.
With Aussies 0-1 down headed into fourth Test at Headingley yesterday, only a major turnaround in form will sweep Ponting’s new-look team to victory in the final two Tests.
However, a drawn series would almost be as good as a win as Australia would hold on to the Ashes, which it won on home soil in 2006-07. While Ponting admitted he would love to surge to a 2-1 series triumph, he said Australia would happily celebrate a drawn series. ”I’d love to be able to win the series,” Ponting said yesterday.
”But if we happen to be 1-1 at the end of it, then holding on to the Ashes would be pretty sweet.” Australia needs to win the final two Tests to keep South Africa from stealing the No1 Test ranking, which Australia has held since 2003.
—–Agencies