Ponting plays pace bowling really well: Botha

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Sydney, Nov 1: Former Proteas all-rounder Johan Botha has said Ricky Ponting plays pace bowling really well, but will have to cope with more variety in the Test series against South Africa.

Botha, as captain of South Australia, will play against Ponting in the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania starting on Thursday.

“He’s always played pace bowling really well. The three (South African) quicks are all different. That’s a challenge within itself.

“Steyn swings it at good pace, Morkel gets a lot of bounce and Philander’s got a lot of skill – he moves the ball around both ways. I think that’s the biggest challenge for him – not so much out-and-out pace,” Botha said.

Ponting’s start to 2012/13, his first season as a Test-only international player, has made plenty sit up and take notice, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

He is the Sheffield Shield’s top scorer with 350 runs from three matches at an average of 175.

South Africa will be wary of Ponting, as he played a major role in removing India from their perch last summer.

“The way he’s playing now, you can’t count him out and you can’t look past him. He’s obviously putting in big runs and that’s great to see. It’s great to see the hunger that he’s got at his age with everything he’s done in his career,” Botha said.

Ponting will turn 38 in December. (ANI)