Stop blaming the WAGs for England's Ashes woes: Ponting

Sydney, Jan 4 (UNI) Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has dismissed suggestions that England's pathetic Ashes display was a result of players being distracted by the presence of their wives and girlfriends on the tour, saying that such a reasoning was nothing more than a 'load of rubbish'.

''I hear some pundits back in England have suggested that England's performances have suffered as a result of having their loved ones out with them. To be honest, I just dismiss all that talk as a load of rubbish,'' Ponting wrote in his column for 'The Daily Telegraph'.

The Aussie skipper said it was ridiculous to suggest that the players' onfield performance can get hampered by the presence of their families and felt it would be mentally taxing on the cricketers if they were asked to stay away from their loved ones for long tours.

''There are certain times, yes, you do have to devote yourself to the team and it's important to steer clear of all distractions. But at the same time, to be all the way over here and not see your wife or family for two or three months would be very difficult,'' he explained.

''All I know is that, after a long day in the field, it's great to be able to get away from cricket and freshen up that way. It certainly helps me and if it's been a hindrance for England on this trip I'd be pretty surprised,'' he added.

Calling himself the lucky one as he still doesn't have a child after five years of marriage, Ponting said not being a father makes it easier for him to stay away from home for long tours.

''I'm probably one of the lucky ones in our team at the moment.

I've been married for five years, and still don't have any children so actually travelling away from home is not such a burden for me,'' he said.

The Aussie skipper, meanwhile, also paid tribute to opener Justin Langer who will call it quits after the Ashes. Ponting said though Langer's retirement announcement was overshadowed by those made by Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, the opener's contribution to Australian cricket was immense.

''He's just incredibly passionate. He has never, ever taken a single day of his cricketing life for Australia for granted. In fact, he's what the baggy green cap is all about, which is exactly the reason that I handed him the honour of leading everyone in the team song,'' Ponting said.

''He's a tough, nuggety, uncompromising little bloke who's had to prove people wrong all the way through his career. Nothing's ever been really easy for him, he's always had to fight the hard way. But after this game he's going to retire with a very, very good record as an opening batsman. Well over 20 centuries, I think, and that is fully deserved,'' he added as he paid tribute to the veteran opener.

UNI