Ponting commends Kangaroos` Ashes win as `greatest in Oz cricket history`

Sydney: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has commended his successor Michael Clarke and his side for their 3-0 lead in the five-Test winter Ashes series and has termed it as possibly the greatest win in the history of Australian cricket.

Ponting, who captained the 5-0 clean sweep in 2006-07 but was also at the helm for three series losses, said that while the clean sweep was achieved with a team of champions, this group has defied all expectations and laid down the groundwork for another era of dominance. According to the News.com.au, Ponting also said that considering where the current team have come from and all the negativity surrounding them going into the series as underdogs, this is one of the most significant victories in the history of the country and a remarkable turnabout. Stating that no one could see the victory coming, Ponting further said that Australia, and many of its players, now has the rare opportunity to forge its own identity. Clarke, however, was careful when asked to rate the achievement against others in his 100-Test career, saying that winning back the urn in 2006-07 after its shock loss in 2005 was an effort that needed to be equally respected.