Sorry mates but time for series whitewash, Ponting tells England

AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has come to the defence of embattled England cricket coach Duncan Fletcher and skipper Andrew Flintoff, claiming the harassment they are suffering after losing the Ashes is “harsh”.

Fletcher and Flintoff were grilled by the media the day after losing the urn, with journalists questioning all elements of the team’s organisation — from the validity of their selection process to whether they should step down from their roles.

But Ponting, speaking after arriving back in Sydney to spend three days with his family before rejoining the Australian team in Melbourne for the fourth Test, empathised with the English pair.

“There are 11 guys in the team, or the 13 guys in the squad, and it is very harsh just to blame the coach and captain,” he said.

“But I know, especially after last year, what it is like as a leader, as a captain of a side, that when you lose a lot of the flak will come back on you.”

But Ponting stopped short of showing the opposition too much compassion. Although winning back the Ashes has been achieved, the Australian skipper made it clear the job was far from over.

Ponting insisted a 5-0 whitewash was the ultimate goal.

“I think we will look at 4-0 first and go from there,” he said.