Ricky Ponting’s absence in Sydney Test will be ‘huge loss’ for Aussies: James Anderson

England fast bowler James Anderson reckons the absence of injured Ricky Ponting will be a “huge loss” for Australia during the fifth Ashes Test, starting in Sydney on Sunday.

Anderson said that though Ponting was in a form slump, he remains an integral part of the Australian side.
 
“He (Ponting) has been out of form, but he’s a fine player and a real wicket that we cherish and we really want to get so I think he’ll be a big loss for them,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Anderson, as saying.

The 28-year-old further said that after retaining the Ashes urn, his team is now aiming to win a series in Australia.

England has not won a Test series in Australia since 1986-87.

“All of us want to go home with a winning series, not just retaining the Ashes, we’re not going to settle for that now,” Anderson said.
 
“We’ve still got a 24-year record that we want to put to bed and we’re not going to settle for a 2-2 series. We want to wrap this series up 3-1,” he added.

England took an unassailable 2-1 lead after crushing Australia by an innings and 157 runs in Melbourne to retain the Ashes for the first time in 24 years.