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Ricky Ponting is keen to continue leading Australia, despite his record of being the first captain, either English or Australian, to lose the Ashes twice. While others have lost more than one Ashes series, no-one other than him has lost twice where their side has entered both series as the holders.

It has also been over 100 years since an Aussie captain lost two away series against the old enemy, but despite this, perhaps because of it, Ponting is hoping to stay on in the job.

“I still think I’ve got a lot to offer the team, as a batsman and as a captain and as a leader,” said Ponting.

Many have questioned whether he could even be stood down from the job, questioning whether the side’s best batsman would want to continue playing under another captain. Ponting begs to differ.

“If it gets to the point I’m not the captain, my hunger and determination to keep playing are as good as ever.”

Ponting has come in for a lot of criticism from an Aussie media accustomed to victory, but having previously been lucky enough to captain a side chock full of all-time great players, he is now being forced to manage with more meagre resources.

Players like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne are irreplaceable and as well as his bowlers have performed at different times, there is still a good deal of inconsistency from the bowlers. Mitchell Johnson, heralded as the best fast bowler in the world upon his arrival in England, is the prime example, folding under the spotlight in the first few Tests, before fighting back to show better form towards the end of this Ashes cricket tour.

These players will become more consistent with experience, which explains why Ponting is considering returning to England one more time.