Ponting predicts ‘niggles’ to continue in Boxing Day Ashes Test

MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting is loving his team’s newly discovered art of sledging and aggression, and says that it would boost their confidence going into the Boxing Day Test of the Ashes series against England.

“There’s been a bit of niggle in every Test. It’s international cricket and because of the enthusiasm and emotion that comes out in such high-pressure contests like we’ve had, you’d expect there are going to be some words spoken,” Fox Sports quoted Ponting, as saying.

“There’s been a bit spoken about it this week and probably rightly so. There was enough said last week and I would expect the spirit the last three weeks were played in will continue for the next couple of weeks as well,” he added.

The 36-year-old has also appealed the Aussies fans, who plan to attend the match at Melbourne Cricket Ground, to get behind the home side.

“The Barmy Army are great supporters and they’ll help their players out where they can. But I’d like to think this is probably one venue where they might get drowned out a little bit,” Ponting said.

“There might be even the odd boo coming towards the England players this week, not just me all the time,” he added. (ANI)