Punjab Kings have finally cracked the code. For the first time in over a decade, the franchise has made it to the IPL playoffs, an achievement that has reignited a long-simmering ambition.

Melbourne, Apr 10 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has asked his teammates to start "putting their hands up" after the top five batsmen let the side down again, giving a 2-1 lead to South Africa in the five match series.

Needing to win their five-game one-day series against South Africa to claim the world No. 1 ODI ranking, Australia lost the third ODI by 25 runs.

Sydney, Apr 7 : Australian Skipper Ricky Ponting has backed his openers Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke to bounce back and has publicly challenged himself to lift his game after being thrashed by South Africa in the second game of their one-day international series.

Australia were blown away by pace duo Wayne Parnell (4-25) and Dale Steyn (4-27) at Centurion as South Africa bowled the tourists out for 131 and scored 3-132 in 26.2 overs in reply.

Durban (South Africa), Apr. 3 : Australia captain Ricky Ponting has warned his players not to be distracted by the build-up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) that is to be played in South Africa.

The IPL caravan for the five-week event is about to hit town, led by Shane Warne''s defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

Durban, Apr 3 : Australian captain Ricky Ponting is sure that pacer Mitchell Johnson's bone-breaking powers will be playing on Graeme Smith's mind when the South African skipper returns to open in the first one-day international being played here today.

Left-armer Johnson fractured Smith's left hand's little finger in the Sydney Test match in January, and two Tests later in Durban he completed the double, cracking the opening batsman's right hand little finger.

Johannesburg (South Africa), Mar. 31 : Ricky Ponting insists Australia''s South African tour hasn''t run off the rails despite three successive losses to the Proteas.

Ponting''s men must regroup for the opening one-day international in Durban on April 3 after losing the third Test by an innings and 20 runs, Friday''s first Twenty20 International by four wickets in the final over and Sunday''s second Twenty20 game by 17 runs.