SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting may be just one Test defeat away from becoming the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes series but he is talking about bouncing back and is not entertaining any retirement thoughts. Ponting, who turns 36 on Dec. 19, has not been at the top of his form with the bat while his team trail England 1-0 in the five-match series with three Tests remaining. “Despite being one-nil down and clearly outplayed in Adelaide, we are still very much in this series and a win in Perth will give us the momentum we need to seriously challenge England and win the Ashes back. “My absolute focus is on all the things within my control, preparing the team and myself to perform at our very best in Perth, Melbourne and then Sydney over the next three Tests,” Ponting wrote in The Australian newspaper Saturday. “I have not stopped for one moment to consider retirement. The question of my future as captain is ultimately a decision for Cricket Australia and categorically the future of Australian cricket must come first. “I have every confidence in my ability to score runs and be the experienced batsman and leader that my teammates can rely on. “As captain, I am accountable for the performance of my team and I accept that our most recent results mean that I am being assessed more critically than at other times in my career as captain. The team is my priority, not my own ego or the status that comes with being the captain of the Australian cricket team.” Ponting conceded England had dominated the series so far. “We've been ordinary, we've played poorly. I haven't played the way I would like to have played, especially in Adelaide, but I don't think I'm that far away. “I've got to keep trusting the way I prepare and play and keep working hard. If anything I might have worked a bit too hard on my batting over the last couple of weeks.” ‘Beer unqualified' Shock call-up Michael Beer is simply unqualified to play for Australia in the third Ashes Test this week, according to former Test spinner Stuart MacGill. Despite having played just five First Class matches, left-arm spinner Beer was included in the 12-strong squad for the Perth Test as Australia overhauled its squad in the wake of an innings and 71-run defeat to England in Adelaide. “I am gobsmacked, shocked, I honestly cannot believe it,” MacGill told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. “The team will have to change again after the next Test,” he added. “Good on Michael Beer, good bloke and good player, but look at this as a job interview and show me his qualifications to get this job. “He doesn't have any. He is not qualified for the job they have given him. Sending him out there next week, what are they trying to do?” MacGill's opportunities to play Test cricket were severely limited by playing at the same time as Shane Warne but he did manage 208 wickets in 44 Tests from 1998 to 2008. The third Test begins Thursday. Victoria sets up England chase Victoria set up a final-day run chase for England, holding an overall lead of 310 in its three-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday. Victoria reached 278 for six at the close following some lusty hitting by tailenders Clint McKay and Jayde Herrick against the innocuous offerings of Andrew Strauss (1-51 from four overs) and Eoin Morgan (0-37 off three overs). England is trialling Chris Tremlett, Ajmal Shahzad and Tim Bresnan to replace the injured Stuart Broad for the third Test in Perth. England had declared earlier Saturday on its lunch score of 184-2 on a slow-paced pitch in reply to Victoria's 216
