Cricketfiles.com

EVEN if he raises the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Brisbane tonight, skipper Ricky Ponting believes Australia may have got it wrong with the controversial policy of resting star players.

As Australia head into the one-day decider against the Kiwis at the Gabba, Ponting insists it is no coincidence that his team has emerged from the doldrums by playing the same side in consecutive winning matches.

Against his better judgment, Ponting was ordered to rest from two matches earlier in the series but was rushed back with red-faced Australia 2-0 down and facing an embarrassing series loss against the lowly Kiwis.

Ponting concedes the need for top Australian players to be rested in a hectic cricket schedule but believes the current strategy is far from perfect.

“We haven’t made any changes in the last couple of games and we have probably played our best cricket as a result of that,” he said.

“It (the resting policy) is something that we need to keep working on and looking at and trying to find ways to make the overall policy a little bit better and a little bit tighter.

“It’s hard to say what is right and what is wrong.

“I think it’s important we have got guys that are at their freshest mentally and physically when we really need them. It’s a hard one to get right.

“I have some say in it, like I have some say in selections as well. At the end of the day a lot of those bigger decisions are made without me, that’s just the way it is at the moment.”

Vice-captain Michael Clarke appears to be an unlikely starter for tonight’s clash after missing training yesterday with lower-back soreness.

Australia will give Clarke until the last minute to prove his fitness and if he is ruled out, all-rounder James Hopes or Mike Hussey could open with the in-form Brad Haddin.

Ponting claims tonight’s game takes on extra importance because a win would provide a silver lining to a poor summer and be a springboard for the South African tour this month.

“(This game) for us is everything, we want to finish the Australian summer on a good note,” he said.

“We will head to South Africa with a fairly similar group of guys who will have a bit more of a spring in their step if we happen to win.”

New Zealand have never won a one-day series in Australia and have only won four one-day tournaments away from home in the last decade.