Cricket: Self-belief is the key to victory, says Ponting

With Australia's traditional self-belief back, Ricky Ponting has urged his men to continue their ruthless streak in the countdown to next summer's Ashes battle.

The Bellerive Oval dead rubber beginning today is one of five tests left for Australia before the 2010-11 Ashes revenge mission against England, whose own confidence is also growing.

Ponting stressed it was crucial his players not let up and work ferociously at improving with each match.

The Tasmanian, set for his sixth "home" test, said last week's SCG great escape against Pakistan showed his maturing team was capable of quickly returning to the top of world cricket.

"I think there's a lot more self-belief around the side now than there probably was at the start of this summer even," he said yesterday.

"We've been competitive in every series we've played and we've had moments in most test matches to put sides away and haven't been able to do it and most of that comes down to inner belief and that self-belief that you are good enough to do it.

"Especially a game like last week in Sydney, it just goes to show if you keep doing the right things in games lots of things can go your way."

Ponting cited the match-winning efforts of Nathan Hauritz, Shane Watson and Mike Hussey as examples of improved self-belief.

Ponting has been an interested observer of England's tour of South Africa, where they hold a 1-0 lead going into the fourth and final test, also starting today, after producing two match-saving rearguards.

"I must admit I thought South Africa would be too strong for them," he said. "They're definitely playing some good cricket."

Ponting said both Australia and England's performances had boosted the excitement levels of his men for next season.

But he warned they needed to "make a statement every day" in preparation and during play - which includes two-test series against New Zealand (away) and Pakistan (in England) - to overturn last year's 2-1 Ashes loss.

- AAP