Hussey backs ‘champion’ Ponting to prove his critics wrong

PERTH - Australian batsman Mike Hussey has backed captain Ricky Ponting to overhaul his troubled Ashes campaign and bounce back to his best form in the remaining Tests of the five-match series.

Ponting, who has posted scores of 10, 51, 0 and nine for an average of 23.3 in the first two Tests, managed only 12 runs in Australia’s first innings on day one of the Perth Test on Thursday.

“Whether he’s going well or the team’s going well or not well, he (Ponting) is just such a consistent character. And what I do know is if people doubt or critics count against such a champion they generally come back and show the critics to be wrong,” Fox Sports quoted Hussey, as saying.

“I’ve no doubt it’s going to be the same this occasion. Ricky’s such a champion batsman, champion bloke and a champion captain - I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he added.

Ponting’s captaincy has come under increasing pressure in recent times, with four losses and a draw from the past five Tests only fuelling talk he could be dumped from the top job before he has a chance to walk away.

The 36-year-old would become the first Australia captain in 120 years to lose the urn three times if England retain the Ashes. (ANI)