16 Dec 2010

Ponting accepts criticism for Australia's performances

8:54 am on 16 December 2010

The Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting says his team deserve the criticism they have received in this Ashes series.

A win in the third Test starting today in Perth will mean England retain the Ashes after a draw and win in the first two matches.

Ponting says whatever criticism has come his or the team's way in the last few weeks has been warranted, they haven't put results on the board.

Ponting already holds the unwanted record of being the first Australia captain in over 100 years to give up the Ashes to England twice - in 2005 and 2009 - and he has come in for a lot of criticism for the team's performance so far in this series.

Paceman Mitchell Johnson is expected to return for the Perth test, and there are likely to be two changes to the batting line-up, with Phil Hughes and Steve Smith coming in for Simon Katich and Marcus North.