The fourth Ashes Test and the Tri-Nations clash at Newlands are the highlights of this weekend?s sport and rightfully dominate this week?s ?Pick Six?. Barend Prins takes a closer look at these two events.

Ricky Ponting

With the fall of Ricky Ponting's wicket shortly before stumps on the fourth day of the Edgbaston Test, England had a genuine chance to go two up in the series with two to play. Ponting once again took a lot of flack for his perceived lack of leadership in the face of adversity and calls sounded once again for the Aussie skipper to be sacked. Australia managed to save the Test largely thanks to a century by Ponting's likely successor Michael Clarke, but another Test match played in such a tentative fashion could well mean the end of ?Punter's? time in charge.

Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson would have arrived in England with high hopes of continuing the form he produced against South Africa earlier in the year. To say Johnson has been undercooked so far in the Ashes would be a massive understatement, but there were signs of improvement at Edgbaston at least. Said improvement might just have been enough to keep Mitch in the line-up come Headingley, but with Brett Lee apparently fully fit, another average performance from the left-armer should see him dropped from the side.

Australia cricket team

Again it is fairly obvious, but the Aussies really need a victory at Headingley. Although a draw would not necessarily mean Ashes victory for England (Australia will retain the urn if the series ends level) a drawn series would mean the Proteas reclaim the top spot on the ICC rankings. Defeat at Headingley on the other hand would not only mean losing to their fiercest rivals - and the Ashes that go with it - Australia would also drop down to number four in the rankings behind the Proteas, Sri Lanka and India. At least they'd still be ahead of the Poms...

Morne Steyn

It might seem a bit hard on the Bulls number ten, but Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies is a massive game for Morne Steyn. After having a near-perfect match against the All Blacks last week, how could he possibly have another like that one? Just about every game he plays for the Springboks (and perhaps the Bulls as well) will be measured against that glorious afternoon in Durban.

The Springboks

All the talk this week - and some last week - has been about how good this Springbok team is. Fair enough, they have beaten the touring British and Irish Lions, defeated the mighty All Blacks on consecutive weekends for the first time in ages amongst others, but isn't it a little premature to crown them as Tri-Nations champions already? History tells us that more often than not, the team with the best away record is triumphant, and should Australia somehow upset the applecart and win at Newlands, they will be the team to beat for the remainder of the tournament.

The Wallabies

Ricky Ponting's men aren't the only Australian team under pressure this weekend. Despite dominating for large parts of their only Tri-Nations clash of the season so far, the Wallabies have only one bonus point to show for their efforts. That is the only bonus point scored so far in the tournament however and another point, or four, on Saturday would undoubtedly make the Wallabies favourites to lift the trophy come 19 September. A loss however would make the Boks the runaway leaders and very close to champions despite having to play three more matches.