New Delhi, Sept 10: Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting is looking forward to an exciting but challenging series in India when the two World Cup finalists resume their battle in the one-day cricket tri-series next month. "People back home are still talking about the 2001 series, in which India scripted a superb comeback to win 2-1, and this one will also be a real challenge," said Ponting who is in Mumbai on a business trip.

Ponting, who led Australia to a crushing win against India in the World Cup final in South Africa earlier this year to defend the title, was quoted as saying in a website that he had matured as a batsman over the years. "I did not score too many runs last time (in India) and I am determined to improve my record," he said taking stock of his poor performance last time when Harbhajan 'turbanator' Singh trapped him in a spin web.

On his last tour of the country Ponting scored just 17 runs in five Test innings, which also included three ducks.
The most likely successor to Steve Waugh as Australian Test skipper, Ponting said the world champions have enough ammunition in the likes Michael Bevan, Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist to win the battle in the sub-continent. Bureau Report