RICKY PONTING

I know when I've been playing a lot of golf it takes me a while to get back into cricket again. It's not so much the different shape of the swings, more the fact that you are stationary when you hit a golf ball. In cricket you have to move forward or back, which is an instinctive timing thing.

Every decision you make in life, not just on the sporting field - a lot of time and energy goes into it. You think things through before you make decisions and you always think the decision you make at the time is going to be the right one.

Ganguly is a very good leader. His return to the field brings a spring in the steps of the Indians. He is a great player.

I had big shoes to fill, but the way we have been playing has made the transition easy.

If I had to last 20 years, I would probably be batting in a wheelchair.

I want to be a dad, first and foremost. I want to be a good father. I've spent so much of my life on the move and travelling around the world that just to set up a home for my family and be a good dad is something that motivates me.

It was a long, hard, tough day. We managed to just sneak through, it was an unbelievable Test match.

I have made my thoughts on it (sledging) well known over the last couple of years. We are more than happy to be talking to opposition players in the field so long as it is not personal or abusive.

I've told the guys to keep their heads up. I really believe we played a great game here.

We knew that if we had to win the World Cup, the defensive side of the game had to be better, which means bowlers will have to bowl tight and we will have to field better.

I had big shoes to fill, but the way we have been playing has made the transition easy.

I was always fiercely determined and driven to succeed.

I know when I've been playing a lot of golf it takes me a while to get back into cricket again. It's not so much the different shape of the swings, more the fact that you are stationary when you hit a golf ball. In cricket you have to move forward or back, which is an instinctive timing thing.

It's a song that we sing after we win a Test match. We sing it after every one-day series win. It's been passed down through the generations. It's the culture of the Australian team.

We knew that if we had to win the World Cup, the defensive side of the game had to be better, which means bowlers will have to bowl tight and we will have to field better.

I think any time you lose an Ashes series, especially with the hype and build-up surrounding it and the pride we have as Australians playing against England, that's always hard to take.

How much golf I actually play depends on whom you ask. My wife says I'm out there every day. If you ask me, the cricket is getting in the way of the golf.

It's nice to put your hand up and do the big things the team requires of you.

It was a long, hard, tough day. We managed to just sneak through, it was an unbelievable Test match.

I've told the guys to keep their heads up. I really believe we played a great game here.

I want to be a dad, first and foremost. I want to be a good father. I've spent so much of my life on the move and travelling around the world that just to set up a home for my family and be a good dad is something that motivates me.

Every decision you make in life, not just on the sporting field - a lot of time and energy goes into it. You think things through before you make decisions and you always think the decision you make at the time is going to be the right one.

We have played so well that the guys have really made my job fairly easy.

It's always good to win a Test match and if you win it comfortably, it can leave a few psychological marks on opposition sides.

Ganguly is a very good leader. His return to the field brings a spring in the steps of the Indians. He is a great player.

I think we've been a lot more disciplined with our bowling. Our batting at times has been more disciplined as well.

If I had to last 20 years, I would probably be batting in a wheelchair.

Not scoring one for the whole calendar year last year was a bit disappointing but I didn't really feel any pressure to get my first one as skipper,.

I have made my thoughts on it (sledging) well known over the last couple of years. We are more than happy to be talking to opposition players in the field so long as it is not personal or abusive.

I was disappointed over my dismissal, given that it was at a crucial stage of the game and I had worked very hard to get to that point,.

I guess we speak pretty loosely, don't we, about looking forward to the Ashes and all that-and we are, but it's not with both eyes. We've got one eye on that and one eye on what we need to get in place to make sure we're the best team we can be for November.

To have a week off in the middle of the season feels like a lot longer I think, so I feel really good. Hopefully I can go out there and get some runs.

Although we lost it has been a great Test and one of the best I have ever played in. Hopefully the next one will be exactly the same.