Ponting: Will Have to Look for Another Job if Australia Lose Ashes Again! -He's Not Joking

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Sreelata YellamrazuJul 2 2010

At the outset, one would have thought that the Australian captain was joking. But he is merely testing waters with the worst case scenario.

ricky ponting laughs

It has not been easy for Ricky Ponting to tour England. The last time Australia were here, they hammered England in the ODI series but the loss of the Ashes 2009 was already writ large.It hurt to the extent that Ponting decided to give up the one thing about cricket he was not too keen on, Twenty20.

So humiliated was Ponting to have lost the Ashes twice under his captaincy - Ashes 2005 and Ashes 2009 both in England - that he was even determined to make it on the tour of 2013 only to seek revenge.

Now Ponting is even more humbled following the ODI NatWest Series loss to England that he knows his neck may be on the line if Australia are not able to hold their own in their own backyard when England go down under for the away Ashes.

Ponting pondered, "I'd probably be looking for a new job if we lose again."

That though is not the route he wants to take towards exit point, "I don't know if there's ever a perfect time to go (after winning the Ashes of the ICC World Cup 2011). We'll see. I've always said if I don't feel I can play the way I want to or if I can't improve any more then it will be time to look at what I'm doing. But I'm definitely as motivated as ever and as hungry as I've ever been. And after scoring runs at the Oval ( in the fourth ODI of the NatWest series), I'm feeling more like my old self, too."

Ponting knows eyes will be watching him as his team will make way to India before returning home for the Ashes that will be followed by the ICC World Cup 2011 again in the Indian sub continent, "It doesn't get any bigger than that and everything I do between now and April will be geared at getting the most out of myself and, most importantly, the group. If I'm able to do that I think there are some pretty special things on the horizon for this team. I haven't thought about any added pressure on me. I'm just thinking about being the best player I can be and having a significant impact on the Ashes series as a batsman and as a leader."

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