Ponting promises no let-up for Kenya

13 Mar, 2011

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has promised the champions will field their strongest available side when they face World Cup whipping boys Kenya on Sunday. And he added that could mean Michael Hussey returning at the expense of brother David.
Match Starts at 02:00 Pm Victory for the Aussies, against a Kenya side that has lost all four of their matches, will take the title-holders - bidding for a fourth straight World Cup trophy and fifth in all - through to the quarter-finals.
Australia have hardly played any cricket for more than two weeks except briefly in last weekend's washout against Sri Lanka and Ponting said: "We've had enough rest. We've had about a third of a game in the last 16 days. "We've trained really hard, so we're really keen to get out there and play some cricket so we won't be resting anybody," he said at Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
"If, after training, we've got 15 fit guys to choose from, we'll pick what we think is our best team." Ponting added: "There is a tough decision to make. I think if you looked at two players that you'd have to single out, who are in the same sort of position as Mike plays, it's going to be unfortunately probably his brother (David) or someone like Steven Smith.
"He's the sort of player that can win you big games in big tournaments like the World Cup so to have him back is great." Ponting has been critical of having four non-Test teams such as Kenya at the World Cup and has welcomed the International Cricket Council's decision to reduce the 2015 edition to 10 teams from 14. Kenya have been anything but competitive so far and last time out lost by five wickets to fellow 'minnows' Canada. "Everybody's entitled to his own opinion," Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande said in response to Ponting's comments. "If the ICC want to make it five teams or a hundred (it's up to them)."

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