Ricky Ponting promises no let up

Profiles / Editor / 18 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

Ricky Ponting insists Australia will not take their foot off the gas for Friday's Super 8 clash with New Zealand, despite already reaching the semi-finals.

The Aussie skipper is keen for his men to take their current momentum into the last four of the tournament, with pride also at stake when the Australasian duo meet.

Having been trounced 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee series earlier this year, Australia will keen to turn the tables on their rivals when the pair do battle in Grenada.

The defending champions are the only unbeaten side the competition and Ponting is determined to maintain that impressive record.
Ponting insisted: "We are never going to sit back and be happy with what we've done, what we've achieved or where we're at.
"We'd like to think we can improve in the New Zealand game, win it and go into the semis with a whole lot of momentum behind us."

He added: "I'm sure New Zealand will be in exactly the same boat as us, going into that game.
"They'll obviously want to beat us and we'll want to beat them. Along with us, they've been the other form team of this whole tournament."

Betfair punters see Australia as the firm favourites to take the points on Friday, with Ponting's men currently trading at 1.5 and New Zealand available at 2.88.

Meanwhile Ponting, who has scored 414 runs in the tournament so far, can be backed at 5.8 to finish as the tournament's top batsman - a market headed by team-mate Matthew Hayden (2.46), who has amassed 477 runs.