The Ashes: Australian Press Round-up

You get the feeling it's going to be a good Christmas for Australians this year, and the press Down Under is full of seasonal joy. The first man to be given credit for winning the Ashes back from the old enemy is Ricky Ponting. The Australian skipper is no longer the hunched, worried figure of 2005, this (Aussie) summer he has looked relaxed and confident, something not lost on Trevor Marshallsea: "[Ponting is] a far more contented soul than the tortured young leader forced to front up on that day at The Oval in September last year."

In the past three Tests England have learned that hell hath no fury like an Aussie scorned and Peter Roebuck is delighted at how Ponting used the anger from last summer's defeat to magnificent effect: "A superb cricketer, he presided over an incisive performance from a hungry team ... he channelled anger into a motivating force. And his players responded. He remained loyal to them but expected them to drive themselves onwards."

In contrast, Andrew Flintoff has had a tough time over the last few weeks, and the Aussie papers wonder how much longer he can carry on for in his present position. "The burden of carrying the leadership along with all his other responsibilities and a throbbing ankle has proved too great for the 29-year-old Lancastrian," notes Chloe Saltau

It's not only Freddie's future that is in question though. Alex Brown pays tribute to the contribution of Australia's veterans before noting that this may be the last Ashes series for the likes of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. "This was about Ashes redemption, and one final victory dance with the team-mates that helped form one of cricket's great dynasties," he writes. Worryingly for England, Brown adds that Australia already have plenty of players that will still be around for the next Ashes series: "Australia's batting from No3 through to No6 has been nothing short of astonishing. Scoring a combined 1312 runs at 119.27 over the three Tests, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke have menaced and frustrated England's attack."

For now England need to concentrate on the next few Tests, and Malcolm Conn reckons their opponents will go for the whitewash: "England, the team which regained the Ashes in such stirring circumstances little more than a year ago, can expect the full force of an unrelenting Australia in front of record crowds in Melbourne, from Boxing Day, and Sydney, in the New Year."

And finally, Peter Lalor, lines up the biggest interview of the series so far when he profiles our very own Lawrence Booth. "Booth, like most of his countrymen, is a rather lugubrious lad who attempts to fashion a cheerful demeanour by wearing a range of pink polo shirts," explains Lawlor in one of the most insighful articles we've read in a long time.