Ponting says age concerns are 'nonsense'

Ricky Ponting has described as "nonsense" suggestions the Australia team for the first Test at Brisbane starting on Thursday is too old. Six of Australia's certain starters for the match are aged 35 or over, a fact that has attracted criticism from legends like Ian Botham and Dennis Lillee.

But Ponting wrote in his column in The Australian that the experience of Australia's veterans would be crucial in winning back the Ashes. "Those experienced guys will be a real asset, going into such a big series," Ponting said. "That's why I think there has been too much made of all this age nonsense, going into the series. All of that is irrelevant. They are the best players in Australia, regardless of age, and they will prove that through the season.

"Those experienced players have seen every situation you can be confronted with, in a Test or one-day match, and they know how to fight their way out of tough positions and get in front from there. I know that, with no Test cricket scheduled between this campaign and the next Australian summer, there will be speculation as to whether this will be the last series for one or two of the older guys.

"Hopefully, it doesn't come into their thinking during these matches. It certainly hasn't entered mine. I don't know if any of them are viewing this as their last Test series. If they are thinking that, then I'm sure they'll make the most of it, play good cricket and not put too much pressure on themselves."