Ricky Ponting Quotes

"The opening bowlers in particular were fantastic. Brett Lee is a top-class bowler and it's great to have him back in the side, as well as Andrew Symonds. We have some momentum now."

"We've had great success against Graeme Smith over the summer, there's no doubt, but he is a class player and we have to keep coming up with different plans. There's no such thing as a watertight plan - it's a very irrational game."

"He is always missed any time he misses a game. There is no doubt we have missed him on a couple of occasions this series,"

"I had said then that it was the biggest upset in the history of cricket. I can't say for sure whether that is true but it definitely has been the biggest disappointment for me."

"We have 14 players in the squad and a couple of those guys haven't played a lot of cricket, so we'll look at them in tomorrow's game against South Africa."

"This Australian cricket team is still the best cricket team in the world and as far as I'm concerned, the best sporting team in the world. For me to be the captain of that side is a great honor and a great thrill."

"It's a bit of a shame not to have Andrew because he's a fairly dynamic player in 20/20 cricket. But there's little point in him playing now and then being forced out in the middle of the one-day series."

"I wouldn't take him at 60 or 70 percent fitness. He has to be right to bowl not just on Thursday morning but every morning of the match."

"I think listening to him before the game he wanted to be more economical and not go for as many runs which probably meant he wanted to drop his pace,"

"I think, within my mind and even within the selectors' minds, we know what our opening combination is going to be for the World Cup. I think that's been on display a fair bit before the last couple of games."

"Once I got past about 30 I felt really settled. I've been saying all along I was batting well and a big score wasn't far away."

"To tell the truth it hasn't been spoken about in any selection meeting that I've had so far,"

"We're just trying to pick the best team for this game, first and foremost, but he's a young bloke who is hopefully going to be around the team for a long time."

"I'm sure the rest of the players sitting here are 100 per cent behind the coach. I'm really happy with the feeling in the group at the moment. I think we all understand the challenge that lies before us and we're all up for it. I'm sure you'll see us play some great cricket."

"Glenn's absence has thrown the attack a bit, but with Brett taking wickets early on with the new ball and Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark stepping in and stepping up, I couldn't be much happier."

"We had a few communication mix ups and it cost us. Two of our first three wickets were run outs and we were on the back foot for most of our innings. Sri Lanka played a very good game though - they batted well and put us under pressure."

"Our cricket has been first class."

"It's an extremely sad day for Australian cricket."

"He got the biggest response I've ever heard on a cricket ground."

"Yes, probably right (more relief than joy after you have avoided an embarrassing defeat). It was a very good Test match win."