Ponting’s absence big loss for Australia, says Anderson

SYDNEY - England pacer James Anderson Friday said Ricky Ponting’s absence in the fifth Ashes cricket Test in Sydney will be a “big loss” for the struggling Australian side.

Anderson said despite the Australian captain’s poor form, Ponting remains a threat to the opposition because of the wealth of experience he possesses.

“He has been out of form but he is a fine player and a real wicket that we cherish and we really want to get so I think he will be a big loss for them,” Anderson was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph Friday.

The Australian skipper was Thursday ruled out from the final Test here starting Jan 3 due to a broken finger.

Ponting’s replacement for the Sydney Test is New South Wales batsman Usman Khawaja and Anderson is confident that England attack will get the measure of him.

“It will be slightly new. We have played against him and had a bit of experience against him.

“The guys have had a taste of what he is about, what his strengths are. Hopefully a bit more background knowledge from a couple of the local guys like (England’s Australian bowling coach) David Saker, might help us even more.”

England lead the Ashes 2-1 with the urn already in the bag. But Anderson reaffirmed that the team is focussed on winning the away series after 24 years.

“When I was growing up as a kid watching us come over here and struggle, then being involved in 2006-07, that was really tough.

“So all of us want to go home with a winning series, not just retaining the Ashes, we are not going to settle for that now.

“We have still got a 24-year record that we want to put to bed and we are not going to settle for a 2-2 series,” he said.