Ponting gets serious on 20Twenty ...

When an Australian says he is about to take a major sporting event seriously, you should always, I repeat always, sit up and take note.

Those sage-like words of advice, count double by the way when the man doing the talking happens to be Ricky Ponting, the antipodean outfit’s harder than nails cricket captain.

The right-hander’s assertions that the men in green and gold are about to wipe away their Twenty20 smiles and conquer all at next month’s inaugural World Cup get-together in South Africa, is however far from a surprise.

After all, were we really foolish enough to believe that Australia - reigning one day kings don’t forget - would be happy to just simply turn up, sign a few autographs and whack a few balls en route to an early flight home?

This is after all, a nation, never mind a collection of cricketers, that is conditioned to do their its utmost when playing for the flag, a country that thrives on challenges and which, more often than not, overcomes obstacles with a stunning regularity that leaves less partisan observers drooling with admiration.

Australia’s Twenty20 fling promises therefore to be a straight-laced affair, seam bowling with guts, batting with bravery, captaincy with concentration. It promises to be a demonstration of Australia doing what it does best – striving to reach the very top of the pile.

Australia, not taking the Twenty20 seriously? I never thought they would. Their promise to stretch every sinew in a version of the game alien to many of them, a credit to both Australian cricket and the huge levels of importance being attached to the event.

September’s Twenty20 meeting of minds and muscle, is clearly a must win for Australia as it will be for the other eleven hopefuls descending on South Africa’s splendid cricketing arenas.
Ponting though has spoken – the rest can consider themselves well and truly warned!

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Just in case you missed them yesterday, here are all the fxtures you need. , Just Click on the ICC 20 Tewnty Logo on the Left hand side …