Australian cricket ready for big examination

BRISBANE - Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist expect some tough questions to be answered during a busy nine-month examination of Australia's Test and one-day cricket sides.

One-day captain Ponting, who will interchange the leadership with Test skipper Steve Waugh, was buoyant about Australia's long-term future on the eve of his team's departure for the triangular series with Pakistan and host Kenya and next month's 12-nation ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

Coming off its longest break from international cricket in almost a decade, Australia will be keen to avoid a repeat its only previous visit to Kenya when it was knocked out in its first match of the Champions Trophy by India.

During the next nine months Australia will also play three Tests against Pakistan, host an Ashes series with England and a triangular one-day series against England and Sri Lanka before defending its World Cup title in South Africa in February and touring the West Indies.

For the one-day side, Ponting would love to see youngster Shane Watson claim the all-rounder's cap as his own and he believes 20-year-old Queensland spinner Nathan Hauritz can confirm his arrival, not just as a long-term Test player, but also a valuable one-day performer.

It is also a chance for speedster Brett Lee to show he can not only bowl like lightning but can also bowl in miserly fashion when required.

And it is a chance for Matthew Hayden to cement a one-day opening role by showing he can score and score quickly in the limited overs game.

Ponting said it was difficult to say whether Australia's one-day batting or bowling had been stronger during the previous 12 months.

"But it's up to all of us to improve as individuals to make sure when the bigger tournaments come round that we are playing well and performing at our best," said Ponting.

The skipper said Hauritz had been "unbelievably cool" when bowling to some world-class players whyen called up in South Africa earlier in the year.

"I think he has a very big future for us, not only in one day cricket but he's also named in the Test squad which is great for him," said Ponting.

"I think we're looking for Shane [Watson] to do a little more.

"It could just take a game where he goes out and backs himself and it all comes off for him where he gets some runs and take some wickets and he starts believing in himself at the highest level."

Gilchrist agreed there would be plenty of opportunities for new players to make statements to selectors.

"There's no hiding that some careers are coming towards an end," said the Test vice-captain.

"It starts with a bit of revenge against Pakistan I guess and then there's the Champions Trophy which Australia has never won which is high on the agenda.

"Then there's the obvious ones like Ashes and World Cups and a tour of the West Indies."

"It's an exciting time with plenty up for grabs.