Cricket: Ponting happy with Aussie progress since Ashes defeat

HOBART - Ricky Ponting confidently claimed his clinical test side had ticked all the boxes in ramping up for next season's shot at Ashes redemption.

Australia finished the home summer with a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan, for five wins from six tests played, after completing a 231-run victory at Bellerive Oval yesterday.

While Ponting's men struggled at times in the 2-0 win over the West Indies, they comprehensively outplayed Pakistan, save for the first two days of the Sydney test.

"It's been a great series and a great summer for us," Ponting said.

"I think we have improved a lot.

"We've been very clinical in the way we have played our test cricket [against Pakistan] in the last few weeks so I am really happy with what we've achieved."

Most pleasing for Ponting has been the emergence of Shane Watson, the player of the series against Pakistan, and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

After taking 3-30 yesterday as Pakistan were dismissed for 206, Hauritz effectively bowled Australia to victory in the fourth innings of all three tests and ended the summer with 29 wickets at 26.82.

Watson was the leading scorer with 609 runs at 60.9.

Asked if he felt there were any boxes left unticked since the 2-1 Ashes series loss in England, Ponting said: "I don't think there are to tell the truth, no.

"I am really comfortable with the way a lot of the guys have come on.

"Watson in the opening role was something we probably weren't entirely sure about coming into the summer, but I think he has put his own stamp on that particularly well.

"Nathan Hauritz has certainly stepped up to take 18 wickets in this series alone, on two wickets in Melbourne and Hobart that didn't really offer much for him at all.

"That sort of return from a finger spinner is a great effort."

The improvement of Doug Bollinger (25 wickets at 20.8) and return to form of second test star Mike Hussey (502 at 55.77) and Mitchell Johnson (29 wickets at 27) also has Australia looking a far more settled side.

But the skipper is not resting on his laurels, especially with England forcing a 1-1 series draw in South Africa.

After one-day series against Pakistan and the West Indies, the Aussies head to New Zealand for two tests in March and also have two more tests against Pakistan in England before the Ashes starts in Brisbane in November.

"We have to keep improving every day," he said.

"I've never known a player to get better when they are happy with what they've achieved and I've never known a team to keep improving if they're happy with what they've done either."

How they finished:

Australia
First innings: 519-8dec
Second innings: 219-5dec

Pakistan
First innings: 301
Second innings: 206

- AAP