Ponting-annoyed at Sri Lanka resting three main bowlers

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was visibly annoyed when he came to know at the toss that Sri Lanka would not field three main bowlers in their Super Eights clash here.

Finding out that his rival captain had opted to rest his three frontline bowlers in Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lastith Malinga, the Aussie captain was furious with his face showing the annoyance as he was fielding his ''strongest team''.

Sri Lanka appeared to have given this game some thought and the decision to give the three main bowlers a break against the Aussies who are on top of the team standings. And with the game against Ireland here on Wednesday to go, Sri Lanka knew their second place on the table remain's undisturbed.

The first and fourth-placed teams play the first semi-final at St Lucia while the second and third-placed sides meet in Kingston in Jamaica, meaning the Lankans will get to play in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Ponting has said that New Zealand's ''love for a scrap'' will make them dangerous opponents both in their Super Eights game here on Friday, and for the World Cup itself.

''New Zealand are playing as well as anyone at the moment,'' he said.

''They've been playing pretty much one-day cricket almost 12 months now, they've played hardly any other cricket. They've been focusing wholly and solely on this event.

''They didn't play very well in Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Series but we then went there and they played some unbelievable cricket, scored some big runs and chased some big totals down. There's no doubt at the moment they've got a bit of confidence and when they are actually at full strength, which they are pretty close to now, they are a very competitive side.'' He added, ''They love a fight, they love a scrap. They are a pretty proud team and I've got a lot of respect for them.'' UNI HSB PDS RK0800

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