Ponting could achieve the rare dubious record of losing two Ashes series in UK

Melbourne, Aug.1 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting may have become his country's highest scorer in Tests, but he faces the rare prospect of being the second Kangaroo skipper to lose two consecutive Ashes series in England, reports the Courier Mail.

The only other is Australia's first touring captain, Billy Murdoch, well over a century ago.

It would be a sad irony if such a great cricketer with such an imposing record as leader was remembered for being the only captain since the Boer War to have such a blot on his record book.

There was no joy on Ponting's face about becoming the highest run scorer in Australian Test history at the end of day two of the third Ashes test, with side bundled out for 263 and England replying strongly with 116 for the loss of two wickets.

Ponting, 34, has passed Alan Border's record of 11, 174 Test runs in 134 Tests with an average of 56.

Its difficult to imagine that by the time he finishes Tasmanias most famous son will not have also overhauled the only two other members of the 11,000-run club Brian Lara (11,953) and the still- playing world record holder Sachin Tendulkar (12,773).

Ponting would give all these records back if he could turn the tables in this series.

But a bad weather forecast for the remainder of this Test, and a dodgy forecast for the fourth Test at Headingley, beginning on Friday, will make the skipper ever more nervous.

As holder of the Ashes, Australia needs only to level the series to retain the tiny urn. (ANI)