Ricky Ponting admitted his team selection ultimately undid Australia's chances of holding on to the Ashes after their 2-1 series defeat.
The Aussies were confident enough about the Oval wicket to ignore any specialist spinners in their XI, but the defeated captain admitted in the immediate aftermath of the defeat that it was a mistake.
'In hindsight, no; it wasn't the right side,' Ponting said, after Nathan Hauritz was left in the pavilion.
'We thought the wicket was ready to play on, but while it was a poor wicket I'm not blaming it for us losing. All the same it was a poor Test match wicket.'
The 34-year-old said he was proud of his team 'fighting it out right to the end' but could not hide his disappointment at the loss.
'As the captain of the side I'm the one that holds the responsibility and it's more disappointing as a result,' he said.
Ponting, who faced Ashes disappointment here in 2005 when the Test was drawn, went on to say: 'It's probably fair to say I've had a few disappointing times here, drawing in 2005 and losing this time around as well.
'It's not my favourite ground in the world.
'But we've enjoyed being a part of it all, all our guys will learn a lot.'
A remarkably composed and polite Ponting added that he had not lost any of his fire to win the famous urn back, and reserved special praise for one of England's top emerging talents.
'It makes me pretty determined I must admit,' he said.
'This whole series has see-sawed from one side to another, and for me it was [Stuart] Broad that really stood out.'
The Aussies were confident enough about the Oval wicket to ignore any specialist spinners in their XI, but the defeated captain admitted in the immediate aftermath of the defeat that it was a mistake.
'In hindsight, no; it wasn't the right side,' Ponting said, after Nathan Hauritz was left in the pavilion.
'We thought the wicket was ready to play on, but while it was a poor wicket I'm not blaming it for us losing. All the same it was a poor Test match wicket.'
The 34-year-old said he was proud of his team 'fighting it out right to the end' but could not hide his disappointment at the loss.
'As the captain of the side I'm the one that holds the responsibility and it's more disappointing as a result,' he said.
Ponting, who faced Ashes disappointment here in 2005 when the Test was drawn, went on to say: 'It's probably fair to say I've had a few disappointing times here, drawing in 2005 and losing this time around as well.
'It's not my favourite ground in the world.
'But we've enjoyed being a part of it all, all our guys will learn a lot.'
A remarkably composed and polite Ponting added that he had not lost any of his fire to win the famous urn back, and reserved special praise for one of England's top emerging talents.
'It makes me pretty determined I must admit,' he said.
'This whole series has see-sawed from one side to another, and for me it was [Stuart] Broad that really stood out.'
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