Ponting admits Somerset game is important

Ponting: "By the time Saturday and Sunday come around, there won't be any excuses" © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting has admitted that Australia's embarrassing collapse against England in the Twenty20 international has raised the stakes involved in Wednesday's one-day game with Somerset.

Australia looked decidedly rusty as they were skittled for 79 by England's bowlers at The Rose Bowl on Monday in the first hostilities between the two countries ahead of the Ashes Test series. And Ponting admitted it was now important that the likes of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke get some time at the wicket at Taunton before the triangular series with England and Bangladesh gets underway at the weekend.

"Half of the reason Hussey and Clarke batted where they did on Monday was to have some time in the middle. But Clarke got out first ball and Hussey only faced half a dozen," Ponting said. "We've got to look at that. The good thing is that Hussey has been playing a lot of cricket over here with Durham so he shouldn't be out of touch. I've also kept a pretty close eye on him in training and he looks pretty good.

"Clarke did a lot of work at home pre-season but there is nothing as good as some time in the middle as we all know. Hopefully both Hussey and Clarke, and even myself and Damien Martyn, will have time in the middle in the Taunton game. It is probably a pretty important game for us now against Somerset and we've certainly got to try and get whatever we can out of that.

"We had a good game down at Leicester the other day. We got a lot out of that game as far as batsmen getting time in the middle and the bowlers having a good work-out. Hopefully we can do the same at Taunton."

And Ponting admitted there were areas work on: "We can all improve a little bit. It takes a little time to get back into the pace of the game at international level. We'd had two months off leading into this tour. I'm sure there is still a bit of rustiness there although I've been happy with what we have done. By the time Saturday and Sunday come around, there won't be any excuses as far as preparation goes from us."

Australia face Bangladesh at Cardiff on Saturday and will get their chance for revenge when they again lock horns with England at Bristol on Sunday.

Ponting also revealed that he would not be in favour of the Twenty20 format being used for a mini World Cup. He said: "I think we will play a few more of these games around the world. It has been great for the game over here in England. When I played one for Somerset last season we had a full house and it's done a lot for the game over here.

"It's a good game for the fans. I don't see it becoming a Twenty20 World Cup. I think it is better being played as a fun, more light-hearted sort of game. That's my opinion. I don't think it should be taken that seriously."