16 Dec 2010

Ponting well aware he's playing for his future

8:54 am on 16 December 2010

Captain Ricky Ponting is under no illusions just how important the third Ashes test against England is not only for the Australian team but for his future as skipper and batsman in the under fire side.

The third test gets underway in Perth today with the hosts trailing England 1-nil in the best of five series and a loss at the WACA would condemn Ponting to becoming the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes series.

Ponting says he's well aware his captaincy and even place in the side are under threat and concedes another Ashes loss could spell the end of his reign as skipper.

Play on day one of the third test gets underway at 3pm.