 A splendid overall performance shown by Australia in the three-match Test series has prompted opposition team captain Mohammad Yousuf to term them, the best Test team in the world.
"Yes, the best team, because they're a good side with all good players. If you see the statistics, they have good batting averages, good bowling averages, the wicketkeeper average nearly 40 (runs), they have a good side," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Yousuf, as saying.
Pakistan lost the series due to poor on field show- dropping a total of 14 catches-and because of an average display of batting throughout the series. Skipper Yousuf pointed out the flaws, "A lot of catches were dropped, that's why we lost the series, otherwise maybe a different result."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting, however, felt that Pakistan did not play to their potential despite having some world class players in their team. "Everyone thought Pakistan were going to beat us, but it's a matter of them being able to do it for long enough spells and that''s what you have to learn in this game," Ponting said.
"Pakistan pushed us and had their moments in Sydney, but they couldn't do it for long enough to get themselves a win and that's what they have got to keep striving to do," he added.
Meanwhile, Ponting spoke in favour of out-of-form batsman Marcus North, claiming that he should be given another chance to prove his potential. North, who just managed 41-runs in the three Test matches he played, has been criticised for his poor batting and the former Australian greats feel that he should pave way for youngsters in the tea.
"He's not a weak link at all. It was only a couple of Tests ago that we were saying that he's probably our best and most in form player," The Herald Sun quoted Ponting, as saying.
"I don't see a weak link in our side and hopefully everything turns out the way we want it for Marcus and he can go to New Zealand, have a good series and then there won't be any speculation about anyone in our lineup," he added.
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