Tough for England to bounce back: Ponting

LEEDS: Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his side were now looking forward with confidence to the finale of the Ashes after levelling the series in dominating style. Victory in the fourth Test at Headingley on Sunday, a win achieved with more than two days to spare, saw Australia level the five-match series at 1-1 with one to play.
They now head to the Oval, where the fifth Test starts on August 20, needing just a draw to retain the Ashes, with several of their leading batsmen and bowlers in fine form.
"It will be difficult for England to bounce back now. Everything is heading in the right direction for us at exactly the right time of the tour," said Ponting.
Australia were on top throughout at Headingley, bowling England out for 102 with recalled seamer Stuart Clark taking three wickets for 18 runs and fast bowler Peter Siddle a Test-best five for 21. In reply, Australia piled up 445, man-of-the-match Marcus North scoring 110, vice-captain Michael Clarke 93 and Ponting himself a stylish 78.
Ponting is desperate not to follow in the footsteps of Billy Murdoch and become the first Australia captain in over a century to lose two Ashes series in England. But after this victory Ponting, captain when England won the Ashes 2-1 on home soil four years ago, was in bullish mood after seeing his team fall behind this series with a 115-run second Test loss at Lord's.