WHEN Ricky Ponting arrived in
Asked to front more press conferences at
The ICC even sent one of their media men to do shopping-centre promotions in
Local journalists joked that Cricket South Africa was clearing a special space in their trophy cabinet for the 90cm mace, which was valued at STG30,000 ($A64,000) in 2001.
Australia have held the trophy since 2003 and after winning the first two Tests of their three-match series in South Africa, Ponting's men are hanging onto it thanks very much.
Although the ICC Test Championship table is only updated at the end of each series, the Proteas needed to win the series to overtakeAustralia before the annual cut-off date of April 1.
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Ponting insisted it had not been his side's main goal and it shouldn't have been
"If they have been focusing on that for the last couple of weeks, it might be the reason why they haven't performed as well as they would have expected," Ponting said.
"I haven't mentioned the trophy once around this whole group because it's not the reason we play.
"We play to win games of cricket for
"Whatever happens as a result of that, happens.
"If silverware comes your way then great. But that's not the reason that we play the game."
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