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Ponting defends Zim tour decision

May 31, 2004 12:50 IST

Captain Ricky Ponting has defended Australia's decision to proceed with their three one-day matches in Zimbabwe after the two-Test series had been called off.

"I've got no doubt it was the right decision to tour Zimbabwe," Ponting told reporters at Sydney airport.

"We went there to do our job, which is to play cricket.

"We didn't get involved in anything political but that's not saying we turned a blind eye."

Zimbabwe have been forced to pick a second-string team since last month when 15 white players including former captain Heath Streak made themselves unavailable over what they see as racially driven selection policies.

The African side has lost five one-day internationals and two Test matches against Sri Lanka and suffered three defeats in one-day series against Australia which finished on Saturday.

Two scheduled Tests against Australia were called off because of Zimbabwe's problems in fielding a Test-strength side.

Australia won the three one-day matches by seven wickets, 139 runs and eight wickets. Ponting said his players had been enthusiastic throughout the series despite the large gap between the world champions and the home side.

"It's never hard to get motivated to play for Australia. You never have to worry about this side getting up," he said.

Ponting nominated Michael Clarke's maiden one-day international century as a highlight of the tour along with the new-ball bowling of Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, who relegated Australia's leading paceman Glenn McGrath to first-change.

Australia will host a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Darwin and Cairns in July.

The International Cricket Council, the game's world governing body, will discuss Zimbabwe's Test status at a meeting on June 27.


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