Ricky Ponting must feel like he has gone back in time as he is once again being forced to defend his place in the Australia team.

Barely two month ago the 37-year-old had to field questions almost every other day about whether or not he is worthy of a spot in the Test squad after failing to score a century in 33 matches.

Ponting's critics, though, were forced to eat their words as he hit a double-century, a hundred and three fifties in six innings against India.

After proving the doubters wrong in the Tests, Ponting now has to do it all over again in the limited-overs arena. The 374-match veteran has made a poor start to the Commonwealth Bank Series, scoring two, one, six and two in his four outings to date.

Despite his low scores, Ponting feels he is still good enough for selection in the ODI team.

"I think I am, but you'd better ask the selectors what they think about that," he is quoted as saying by Cricinfo. "My last four games have not been what they would have liked, but I guess if the selectors were thinking that way already then they probably wouldn't have picked me for the start of the series.

"There are still a few senior players around the side and they made it clear to the younger guys at the start of the summer that it was vital they gain a little bit of experience around them. But saying that, it's not just reputation that going to get you picked. You have to score runs, that's what it's all about. I know that as well as anyone."

He added: "I can't run away from what's happened. It's been four single-figure scores in four games. If I look at the way I've trained in the last few weeks, yesterday is the best session I've had in a long time.

"I felt as sharp as I have all summer, but I've got to find a way to get some runs. If I'm out cheaply we're 2 for 20-odd and we've been that in just about every game we've played."