Partnerships

"One thing our innings in this match underlined was the reality that it is very hard to make good totals in one-day matches without good partnerships. It's something we regularly talk about during team meetings, and I felt that this game showed that we've taken this lesson on board. It was important after Watto was dismissed so early that Tim Paine and I got things back on track, even though the wicket was playing some tricks. Then Mitch and Brett Lee and then Mitch and Nathan Hauritz worked really well together during the final 10 overs of our innings.

Partnerships were a key when we bowled too, especially in the latter stages when we closed the game out in efficient fashion. Those last few overs have been a bit of an Achilles heel for us over the years, so I took a lot of satisfaction from the way we took 6-55 from the final 61 deliveries of the game, to clinch the game by 50 runs with 19 balls to spare."

Ricky Ponting "The Captains Year 2010"
ICC Champions Trophy 2009: Game 5, Group A (September 26) Australia v. South Africa

I read this yesterday and thought of you chaps and how I keep going on about how important partnerships (batting/bowling) are ... good to see that I am supported by Ricky Ponting.