Clarke backs Ponting to show his class at The Oval

SURREY - Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke has warned England that they should fear the Australian captain Ricky Ponting as he plays the fifth and final Ashes Test match at The Oval that will determine his legacy.

“You see Punter in World Cup finals or huge matches and he always stands up,’” The Daily Telegraph quoted Clarke, as saying.

“I think that is probably one of his greatest assets as a leader, in big games he always does stand up and lead from the front. That is certainly something I think England should fear,” he added.

The Oval Test would be the last of Ponting’s 18 Tests on English soil and will also determine his legacy as Australian captain, as a loss will mean that Ponting will go down in history as only the second captain to lead Australia to consecutive Ashes defeats in England. (ANI)