Ricky Ponting still has hunger for Ashes battle, says Richard Hobson

Ponting said he was as excited about this series as he had been about any other. What did you make of that? It was interesting to hear him saying that. Michael Clarke, the vice-captain, said much the same thing of his captain yesterday, which leads you to believe that what he is saying is probably true. This could be Ponting’s last Ashes tour and if he was to lose a second on the spin in England it would leave an awful stain on what has been a tremendous career. He will be desperate to avoid that. He seemed in a very relaxed mood throughout the press conference. Did that surprise you?…

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