India a serious threat to Australia's dominance, says Ponting

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Wednesday that India poses a serious threat to Australia’s Test cricket supremacy and if Australia has to hold its rankings in the future, it would depend on the younger players of the team.

The Australian skipper collected the ICC Mace, the Test Championship trophy at a function held in Mumbai to felicitate the captains of Australia, South Africa and India for their accomplishments in the ICC rankings.

Ponting banking on youngsters

Speaking to reporters, Ponting said that India has a great team at the moment and South Africa has played excellent cricket for a number of years now.

"Hopefully over the next twelve months the younger guys that we bring into the (Australian) national team will stand up and perform," he was quoted as saying.

"If they can do that and the older guys like me, Matthew Hayden and the other guys keep pulling our weight we can hopefully remain number one", added the Australian skipper.

India finished second in the Test rankings after squaring a home series with South Africa.

We will try to close the gap with Australia: India coachGary Kirsten, the new Indian coach, said that his side was deservedly in second place and he hoped to challenge Australia for the top spot over the next year.

"It has been a tough twelve months for us as a Test team but the fact we have risen to many of the challenges put before us is reflected in our second position," said Kirsten.

"We now have to press on and try and close the gap to Australia as well as stay ahead of the sides below us."

South Africa came first in the ICC One-Day International Championship defeating Australia by a very small margin. Shaun Pollock collected the trophy for the South Africans and said that beating Australia for two years in a row was a satisfying experience.

"Australia is the benchmark in all forms of the game and especially one-day cricket. So, for South Africa to take over the top spot in the one-day table is a huge achievement for the playing group as well as a great honour for everyone connected with South Africa cricket,” said the retired South African seamer Shaun Pollock.