Ponting determined to lead 'my way'

The Ashes loss spurred Ricky Ponting to do things his way as captain, according to his deputy Adam Gilchrist. Ponting was constantly criticised in England for his decision-making and the large amount of consultation with team-mates, but in Australia's first two Tests of the summer his leadership had a greater edge and he also scored twin centuries in the first Test against West Indies.

Gilchrist said Ponting had already taken a "more authoritative approach" with the team. "He has got a really steely resolve now and he's going to be much better for the experience in England," Gilchrist said in The Australian. "He saw the criticisms of his captaincy and of the team when he got home and thought: 'Right, I am going to do this my way so if there is criticism of the team in future at least I will have done it my way'."

Ponting's batting this summer has quickly found its groove and the paper reported he became Australia's most prolific No. 3 in Brisbane after passing Don Bradman's 5078 runs in 40 Tests. Playing 56 Tests in the role, Ponting has 5269 runs and David Boon, a Tasmanian who also batted at first drop, said Ponting was "a class act and one of the best batsmen in the world".

"There is a period of four or five years when, as a batsman, you do know your game through and through and are totally comfortable with the way you are batting," he told The Australian. "Players generally say that period is from around 27 to 28 through to 33 or 34. If that's the case we might not yet have seen the best of him. It's a scary thought, isn't it?"