Ponting blasts Aussies, asks them to lift performance against Kiwis

Auckland, Mar.5 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has urged his one-day international squad to train harder and lift their performance against New Zealand in the second of five Chappell-Hadlee matches to be played at Auckland's Eden Park.

Following their two-wicket loss in Napier on Wednesday, Ponting's men are reportedly desperate to show some improvement in Saturday's game.

"A lot of our batsmen need to look at themselves long and hard to make sure they do better next time," said Ponting, who was critical of batsmen getting out in the 30s and 40s and not getting big scores.

Mike Hussey, with 59, was the only player to score a half-century in Australia's 8-275 before New Zealand made 8-281 including man-of-the-match Ross Taylor's 70.

"Every game that we play has to be like it is your last. I didn't think we were necessarily playing with that sort of attitude, especially with our bowling and our fielding," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying after Wednesday's game.

"We've got a little bit of work to do before the next game," he said. (ANI)