"It's just a great luxury to have guys like them (Warne and Glenn McGrath) ... in your side," Australia captain Ricky Ponting told a news conference.

"They are always going to be doing a good job for you, whether that be trying to restrict the opposition or bowl them out.

"Never at any stage do they (Warne and McGrath) ask for a rest. They want the ball in their hand all the time."

The world's leading wicket-taker, who returned for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka in March, Warne has taken 70 wickets in 12 matches this year for a career tally of 561 wickets in 119 matches.

ANKLE INJURY

Paceman Glenn McGrath has taken 47 wickets in 10 matches this year after missing 12 months with an ankle injury. The 34-year-old McGrath is fourth on the tally of all-time leading wicket-takers with 477 from 105 matches.

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"They are great players and their records will tell you that," Ponting said.

"Shane's great ability over the years has been to keep batsmen under constant pressure.

"Most other leg spinners are going to bowl a bad ball an over and Warney just doesn't do that.

"Glenn is just a star performer in any conditions at any given time."

McGrath and the 35-year-old Warne have played leading roles in Australia's record-breaking year of five series victories, including beating Sri Lanka twice, a 2-1 series victory in India, Australia's first in that country for 35 years, and a 2-0 thrashing of New Zealand.

It was Australia's 10th win in 14 Tests this year, losing only once in the fourth Test in India last month.

Ponting added: "This side keeps rolling along and breaking records so it's a great team to be part of at the moment."

India spinner Anil Kumble with 74 wickets is the only player to take more Test wickets than Warne in 2004.

Australia opening batsman Justin Langer is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket this year with 1,481 runs including five centuries, ahead of team mate Damien Martyn's 1,353.

Martyn's 142 in Australia's first innings of the Melbourne Test was his sixth hundred for the year.

"The way he (Martyn) is playing at the moment is absolutely outstanding," Ponting said.