Ponting eyes Champions Trophy final

Mohali, Oct 31 (UNI) Australian skipper Rickey Ponting today hoped that his team will make it to the final of the Champions Trophy this time, saying ''we will have no excuse if we fail.'' Talking to mediapersons on the eve of the semi-final match against New Zealand, Ponting said, ''Matches against them are really intense. For the last few years we have been a nose ahead. Tomorrow it will be a good contest and I hope the result goes in our favour.'' ''There will be no excuses if we fail,'' Ponting said.

''We have a good team and we're playing a semi-final at a venue that we've just played a game on. There are going to be no excuses because things have worked well so far.'' Ponting praised Fleming saying he has done a good job for them (New Zealand) here in a couple of games.

''He is a very intelligent player of the game and a shrewd captain.'' He said he will decide about the final eleven tomorrow after looking at the pitch but added ''it was unlikely that there will be any change in the line-up but in case we decide to include a spinner then Brad Hogg has a good chance.'' Asked if he thinks his team was weak in any department, or is there a grey area, Ponting's cryptic reply was ''None''.

To a query whether New Zealand pacer Shane Bond can be a problem for his side on such a track, Ponting said, ''Bond is like Brett Lee, atleast they (Kiwis) think so. He has had a good Champions Trophy so far, but we don't have to look what they have got, we have to do our job and we are working on that very hard.'' He lavished praise on his seamer Glenn McGgrath saying he has improved with every match. He bowled very impressively against India and ''I am happy the way he was going. He will probably like to have a couple of more first class matches before going for Ashes.'' Ponting was of the view that the Kiwis always try to lift their game when they play against them. ''So it is going to be a good contest,'' he said.

About the Ashes series, Ponting said, ''We are concentrating on Champions Trophy, the series (Ashes) start on November 23, that is a lot of time.'' Australia has twice made the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, but they bowed out to Sri Lanka in 2002 and to England in 2004.

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