Sydney: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on yesterday (Feb 2, 2007) hit back at Lou Vincent's sledging claims and accused the New Zealand opener of 'yapping' in the field. In his weekly newspaper column, Ponting backed Australia's 'ultra-competitive' approach and denied claims they had gone too far.

"I think that's just part of the game at the highest level," Ponting wrote in The Australian newspaper.

"There was nothing over the top that went on the other night, and what he is saying merely highlights how tough our two sides go at it out in the middle. I want the guys in my team to be ultra-competitive," he said.

"That's what it is to play cricket for Australia, and I'm sure New Zealand are exactly the same," he said.

Vincent this week accused the Australians of arrogance and said they "hunt like a pack of dogs" when trying to unsettle batsmen through criticism.

But Ponting said Vincent was also a vocal player who was "always yapping" on the field.

"Lou is a player who is always yapping up a bit and chirping when he is out on the field, trying to get an advantage for his team," he wrote.

Separately, Ponting said pre-World Cup competition for places had resulted in Australia's sizzling form with six wins out of six in the tri-series.

Matthew Hayden, Mitchell Johnson, Cameron White, Brad Hodge, Ben Hilfenhaus and Brad Hogg have already been given the chance to press their claims, with pace bowler Shaun Tait making his debut on Friday.

"I don't think there are too many places in our squad at all that are guaranteed for the World Cup," he said in Sydney on Thursday.

"We've still got possibly eight games to play (before the World Cup) and lots of things can happen in that period of time.

"I think the competition that we've got around the team at the moment is fantastic."

Australia has been able to showcase its depth during the tri-series, particularly in the fast-bowling ranks where Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and now Tait have all been rotated.

Ponting was certain Australia were well-placed to win its third successive World Cup.

"By the time the World Cup squad is announced I'm sure that we're going to have a very good balance of youth and experience, and a very good balance, right through the team, flexibility-wise," he said.

"I couldn't be any happier with where we are at the moment," he said.

Ponting is to undergo a late fitness test for Friday's match against England after suffering a hip injury in training.