Anil is a great competitor: Ponting

NEW DELHI: Australia skipper Ricky Ponting hailed Anil Kumble on Sunday as a "great competitor" and one who has served the country for a long time.
    
"I would like to congratulate Anil for his long and successful career. He is a great competitor and every single player of my team, who has played against him, is proud of the cricketer," Ponting said after the third Test, which ended in a draw at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Sunday.
    
"I wish he will enjoy his time after the game," Ponting added.
    
Australia's batting department came good in this Test but Ponting felt there were areas for improvement before the Nagpur match.
    
"During the first two days, Indians were looking terrific. But the remaining three days were quite good for us.
    
"Our batsmen including Mathew Hayden and Michael Clarke played really well later in the match," Ponting said.
    
The captain, who himself made 87 in the first innings, also had some words of praise for the Indian batsmen, who put up a commendable performance against the world champions.
    
"Almost every batsman of India got big scores, which helped them post a 600-plus score," he said.
    
"We are looking at the next Test, where we have to make sure that Indians don't get the chance to make such a big score," he added.
    
On Brett Lee, the mainstay of Australia's bowling section, Ponting said, "He has surely improved in the second innings, but he still has more to do before the next encounter."