Ponting urges rejuvenated players to retain momentum for Boxing Day Ashes Test

MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has urged his players to retain their fire and brimstone in the Boxing Day Test of the Ashes series, starting on Sunday.

The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1, but Australia has the momentum following their 267 run win in the third Test at Perth’s WACA Ground.

“We did less talking going into the Perth game than we’d done going into the first two games and that will continue,” News.com.au quoted Ponting, as saying.

“It was about letting the guys play with a bit more freedom and a bit more instinct, and we played some of the best cricket we’ve played in a long time. We played somewhere near our capabilities.”

“If we do that again I’m sure another good performance is just around the corner,” he added.

Australia have already named an unchanged 12-man squad for Melbourne - with the 11 players on duty at Perth joined by uncapped left-arm spinner Michael Beer. (ANI)