Ponting hopes to bounce out Lanka in tomorrow's final

BARBADOS: Australia captain Ricky Ponting, on the eve of the cricket World Cup final, was busy questioning Sri Lanka's methods as well as the advantage his side would have on the bouncy Kensington Oval pitch.

"If Barbados has the pace and bounce it had for the last couple of games, it should play into our hands beautifully," gloated Ponting as he looked to snatch a record third successive Cup win by peppering the Sri Lankans with short-pitched deliveries.

"They are a good team, no doubt about that. They played some very good cricket. But I really like the match-up, Australia versus Sri Lanka."

Australia have won all of their 10 matches in the Caribbean and are unbeaten in their last 28 Cup matches, a run starting from the 1999 tournament in England.

Ponting also didn't see Muttiah Muralitharan as a particular hurdle for his team though the off-spinner has so far claimed 23 wickets in the tournament in his inimitable style.

"For me, it's the first over that you face from him. Once you get used to it, then you can play him all right from there."

Ponting, however, conceded that Murali was too quick to read in the air.