Nel to target Ponting at WC

Andre Nel has opened fire ahead of the World Cup in March saying he will look to “get in the face” of the Australians and specifically captain Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.

“The biggest thing is that I’ll be aggressive, try and bowl as quick as I can, and be in Ponting’s face,” he told the Daily Telegraph during his side’s one-day series against Pakistan.

“I know he’s an awesome player, has taken all the awards in Australia this season and has had an amazing year. But he can’t keep going hopefully.”

“If I go out there and be aggressive and people give me something back I’ll try and lift my game because then they know I’m also in the contest. I enjoy that, that’s just my character.

“Haydos (Matthew Hayden) is right in your face back at you and Ponting too, he doesn’t back down.

“He takes up the challenge. If you come at him he’ll try and dominate by hitting fours or sixes off you.

“In one way you’ve got a chance of getting him when he does that. But he has been in unbelievable form.”

During the World Cup, Australia and South Africa will face off in the limited form of the game for the first time since their remarkable one-day international in Johannesburg, where Australia set a world record 434, only for it to be broken by the South Africans the very next innings when they amassed an astonishing 438 to win the match by one wicket.