McGrath backs Ponting to lead Australia to an Ashes victory

SYDNEY - Australia’s most successful fast bowler Glenn McGrath has backed Ricky Ponting as the man to lead Australia to an Ashes victory, and ridiculed critics of the team’s bowling attack as “hypocritical.”

McGrath further said that his old skipper Ponting was the perfect person to lead Australia’s revival, and described the recent criticism of Ponting as misguided.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan claimed Australia’s bowling attack lacked an “X factor”, and even suggested the bowlers could ultimately be responsible for Ponting losing his captaincy.

“It makes you laugh, doesn’t it? They were [once] saying we were too arrogant; you can’t win either way,” McGrath said.

“It just amazes me … when the Australian team was too strong, No.1 in the world, it was bad for world cricket, bad for this and bad for that but now because all of a sudden they’ve lost a few games, Australia is now accused of hurting cricket because the team isn’t strong enough.

“I think it’s ridiculous. Before Australia lost to Pakistan in England, they’d won 13 in a row … the players know they’re good enough and with one or two wins under their belts, they’ll be OK,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted McGrath, as saying.

McGrath, who retired in 2007 after taking 563 Test wickets, gave Ponting’s attack his famous thumbs-up signal when asked for his thoughts on their ability to take the fight to England and chance of winning the series 5-0.

“I was away on holiday when Australia played over in India but I have total faith in our boys. The Test series will be played on our wickets and guys like Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris will do great. I know what they can do and I am confident they’ll do it,” he told The Sun-Herald.

McGrath said Siddle must again assume the role of the attack’s enforcer after being away for almost a year because of injuries. (ANI)