Melbourne, Jan. 12: New South Wales batsman David Warner remarkable debut knock of 89 of 43 balls in Sunday night''s Twenty20 win over South Africa at the MCG, suggests that the country's selectors will find it hard to resist picking him for the Australian one-day or Test squads in the near future, believes skipper Ricky Ponting.

Sydney, Jan. 8 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said that Graeme Smith's decision to come out to bat on the last day of the SCG Test with a broken finger, is the bravest thing he has ever seen.

Smith had to be dressed by teammates before batting in extreme pain with a broken left hand and a busted right elbow to try to salvage a draw in an amazing climax to the SCG Test.

Sydney, Jan. 7 : Australian captain Ricky Ponting has described opener Matthew Hayden''s experience as a valuable asset, and does not visualise him hanging up his gloves any time soon, especially when the team is passing through a transitional phase.

Ponting''s comments came as the selectors are due to sit down to choose the national one-day and Twenty20 sides to play South Africa on Thursday morning.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, there is uncertainty about Hayden''s selection in either side.

Melbourne, Dec. 30 : This week's third Test between Australia and South Africa will not be a testimonial for out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden, said team skipper Ricky Ponting and Australia's chief selector Andrew Hilditch.

The 37-year-old Hayden has scored 313 runs at 22.35 in eight matches, leading to comments that he is now a mere passenger with the squad and should make way for better performing openers.

Ponting and Hilditch both denied the Sydney match would be a testimonial for the 102-Test veteran before his retirement.

Melbourne, Dec. 30 : With five wins, five losses and four draws in 2008, Australia will have to strive to be recognized as the number one team in world cricket again, and that objective could take a couple of years to reach, belives captain Ricky Ponting.

Ponting said that having lost a home series after 16 years should not be reason to chop and change a squad that has been used to winning against all opposition.

Referring to the two-nil loss to South Africa, Fox Sports quoted Ponting as saying: "We''ve all got to remain upbeat. There''s no time for panic or as Andrew Hilditch said, chop and change."

Melbourne, Dec. 30 : With Australia losing its first series at home since 1992-93, skipper Ricky Ponting is expecting the national selectors to change the team's composition.

The nine-wicket defeat to South Africa in Melbourne today to give the visitors a two-nil series victory means that Australia now has no choice but to abandon the present and rebuild for the future.

According to Fox Sports, Australian cricket has gone into a freefall during the Boxing Day Test, notwithstanding Ponting''s tragic heroics (101 an 99).