India tour stepping stone to reclaim world number one: Ponting

Sydney, Sep 19 (PTI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting
considers the two-match Test series against India next month a
stepping stone to reclaiming the world number one spot but
said no miracles should be expected from his side in the tough
tour.
"I'd like to get the team back to number one again and
this will be hopefully just one of those steps along the way.
"It's an important tour for all of us. But I don't expect
miracles, but expect a very high level of performance over the
next few weeks," Ponting told reporters before leaving for
India for the two Tests and three ODIs starting October 1.
Australia has dropped to fourth in the ICC Test rankings,
below India, South Africa and Sri Lanka and Ponting conceded
his side would need a spectacular performance against the
world number one side.
"If we happen to play the cricket I know we are capable
of in India and we can win that series, that will do great
things for us to get back up near the number one ranking," he
said.
Ponting agreed with the spin legend Shane Warne that the
tour of India was not the perfect preparation for the Ashes
series but said having two Tests and three ODIs was better
than the original itinerary which featured only seven ODIs.
"There's been a bit of talk the last few weeks about our
preparation into what we've got later in the summer and I
definitely couldn't be happier with it, playing Test cricket
at this time of year," he said.
"For us, I think it will be great to be challenged the
way that we will be challenged over there, by a very good team
and by the conditions. "I think it will be great for us when
November (and the Ashes series) comes around."
Uncapped young pacemen Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson
were placed on standby for the tour following an injury to
another youngster Josh Hazlewood and the Champions League
Twenty20 commitments of squad members Peter George and Doug
Bollinger.
Ponting said the two players were placed on standby as
both George and Bollinger's teams could make the final stages
of the tournament in South Africa, where the final clashes
with the start of Australia's warm-up game in Mohali.
Some of Australia's recent tours to the sub-continent
have been clouded by security concerns but Ponting said he was
happy with the level of security for the trip to India.
The skipper is also keen to improve his average of 20.8
in India, where he has scored just one century in 12 Tests.
Australia play a three-day practice match against Board
President's XI from September 25 before the two Tests --
Mohali (October 1-5) and Bangalore (October 9-13).
The two Tests would be followed by three ODIs -- at Kochi
(October 7), Visakhapatnam (October 20) and Margao (October
24). PTI PDS
MYR