Hats off to Ponting’s professionals

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By Kersi Meher-Homji, 9 Nov 2009 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: Cricket, India, One day cricket, Ricky Ponting

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Australia's captain Ricky Ponting celebrates after reaching 100 on the second day of the first cricket test match between England and Australia in Cardiff, Wales, Thursday July 9, 2009. AP Photo/Jon Super

I know, I know. In the past I have been critical of Ricky Ponting’s leadership and of the Australian selectors’ wisdom. But their performances in the series against India on foreign soil against all odds show that Australia is a champion cricket nation.

Losing nine players through injuries, besides Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist, in the last year and still winning this series against India after being 1-2 down shows the resilience of the Aussies.

And what a see-sawing series it has been; 1-0, 1-all, 1-2, 2-all, 3-2 and now 4-2. Two of the matches were cliff-hangers, Australia winning by four runs in Vadodra last fortnight and by three runs in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Not only has Australia won the series, the future of Fifty-50 cricket appears assured. Besides the high quality of cricket in the current series, the lack of bitterness and controversies has made it more enjoyable.

In retrospect one can surmise that India’s skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni erred in deciding to bat on a dodgy surface in Guwahati yesterday. But this should not detract from the superb bowling of Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson. Also India’s top order batted irresponsibly.

Perhaps Sachin Tendulkar’s magnificent innings (175 runs off 141 balls with 19 fours and four sixes) in Hyderabad was the icing on the cake in the series. But the cake was the gallantry of Ponting’s men. If Australia’s virtual second XI can beat India’s top XI it just shows the high standard of the Sheffield Shield competition.

The return to form of Mike Hussey is the most encouraging aspect of the series.

With one match still to go (in Mumbai on Wednesday), he leads the batting with a century average. Also he is the only one to top 300 runs (313 at 104.33 at a strike rate of 97.50).

The top three wicket takers are all Australians, Shane Watson 10 wickets at 22.00 in six matches, Bollinger and Johnson 9 wickets each at 19.33 and 32.22 in four and five matches, respectively.

Bollinger is the only one to capture five wickets in an innings in this electrifying series, 5-35 in Guwahati. Johnson and Bollinger were behind India losing their top five batsmen for 27 runs.

Watson has established himself as an all-rounder by scoring 256 runs at an average of 42.66 and a strike rate of 91.10 besides capturing 10 wickets at 22.00.

Will the much under-rated Watson take over from where Andrew Symonds left off as an all-rounder? Or this is a false promise?

The Test series against the West Indies and Pakistan in the coming season should give us an answer.

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The Crowd Says (30) | Page 1 of Comments

Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment

“Australia’s virtual second XI can beat India’s top XI it just shows the high standard of the Sheffield Shield competition. ” – Doesn’t it just tell us how strong NSW in particular is.

I have to concur with your point Kersi, indeed “hats off” to Ponting, once Australia were on the ropes at 1-2 in the series he made some bold decisions as captain and his team (well it wasn’t even really “his” team as much as a bunch of Australian players) backed him up.

One thing I would note is the series should have been 5 matches, Australia 3-2 with Sachin smacking 175 would have been a fantastic ending to this series, one that I’m sure we will be talking about for years to come for some of the high quality cricket from both sides and the emergence of some players on to the international cricketing scene.

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vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 9:10am | Report comment

Hi Kersi…Thank you for acknowledging Ricky’s good captaincy. The young players obviously respond to him. Ricky,too, has led from the front with his batting.Johnson may be expensive but when he is focussed is a wicket taker..Wasim Akram suggested he go around the wicket early in his spell and his round arm sling would be more controllable. His dismissal of Sehwag and Gambhir was top drawer. Clean bowled and beating the batsmen with pace and movement.

Bollinger is whole hearted and does not experiment much..runs in fast and bowls straight. Hilfenhaus did not play and I think he is more suited to the longer version. Hauritz was tight and threatening( Freud,take note)

The important thing about the Aussie bowlers was their strike rate..From a wicket every 26 balls to one every 31 balls..this the top three. India’s bowlers on the other hand were striking over 40 balls per wicket.

I had posted on Alan’s piece 7th November that this was a toss Ricky would love to lose as the early morning dew would help the quicks for the first ten overs.

Good piece,Kersi.

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sheek said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:28am | Report comment

Once upon a time I would have lived & breathed every moment of a one day series like this. I’ve been following it in the papers & on the net, & have caught some highlights, but even so, I’m hardly jumping out of my skin.

Must be getting old….. !

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- vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
  
  Sheek..you are definitely not getting old…you have just been disappointed with the overpaid elite cricketers..the ones that complain of too much cricket but are happy to accept the moolah. If an elite cricketer is tired he should opt out..but they dont because it gives an oppurtunity to someone else..and like in the theatre you hope they break a leg.
  
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- Dave1 said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
  
  I think you are getting old. Just last week I was talking to a Collingwood supporter and neither of us could remember who Collingwood lost to…… to get knocked out of the finals.
  
  That’s the thing about cricket though……… even as I get older I’ve never seen anyone get out like Yugraj did yesterday.
  
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Kersi Meher-Homji said | November 9th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment

Sheek,

I AM getting old. But this series in India has made me a few years younger, especially after watching Sachin, Hussey, Ricky, Dhoni, Marsh, Watson, Gambhir and Raina bat.

The bowling, apart from a few spells, has been disappointing.

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- Dave1 said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
  
  The bowling was pretty good yesterday.
  
  Reply
Jameswm said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:03pm | Report comment

This has been a heck of a series Sheek – and I normally prefer tests.

Thanks Kersi.

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- vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
  
  James..talking of Tests keep an eye out for Mohammed Aameer,the 18 year old Pakistan quick and Umar Akmal a middle order batsman( Kamran’s brother)..both exciting cricketers and will do well this summer. I am Indian but I have a lot of respect for Pakistan Cricket..they are the nearest to the West indies of old. I hope CA promotes the series properly..the Windies are coming but there is not much talk. Just over two weeks for the Brisbane Test…will Gayle stop sulking and start scoring? Will Jerome Taylor be consistent or go walkabout. The Windies have a lot to prove and if they are not up to it they will be mercilessly booed.
  
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  - Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
    
    Vinay, I too am pretty excited to get a good look at Mohammed Aameer, I have only seen a few overs but by literally all reports, he is something special. Unfortunately with the time difference I probably wont get to see a great deal of the test series but I’m predicting Aus will thump the Windies and be surprised at just how good Pakistan actually are nowadays.
    
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Viscount Crouchback said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment

A genuinely impressive effort. Half of England’s team would be recuperating in sanatoriums by now if faced with a similar schedule.

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sheek said | November 9th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment

Vinay,

Of course you’re right, I’m disappointed with the general standard I’m delivered by these overpaid, overhyped professionals.

But then that might be a generational thing also!

I’m beginning to sound like my father’s generation, who said, “No bloody good will come of this WSC, you just wait & see”!

Well, WSC was my time, & it was the right time. I have become my father, I think??? Sometimes……….

Also, isn’t it about time the Windies unearthed some new breath-taking talent? International cricket needs them to contrast the Anglo-Indian (broadly speaking) axis.

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- vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:11pm | Report comment
  
  Sheek.. There is talent a plenty in this Windies squad..Keamar Roach is seriously quick and Tonge makes the ball speak. In Jerome Taylor they have a bowler in the Ian Bishop class,before he was injured. If only Sarwan would show more consistency he can be as good as Kanhai and Chanderpaul will give his blood for the cause. It is their fielding and catching,the real basics,that has me worried. But Joel Garner is their Manager and he will whip some discipline into them.
  
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  - sheek said | November 9th 2009 @ 6:16pm | Report comment
    
    Vinay,
    
    “Tonge makes the ball speak”.
    
    Clever….. I got it!
    
    Reply
    - vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:07pm | Report comment
      
      Sheek..I am not surprised you were the first one to get it.
      
      Reply
Dave1 said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment

Cricketers aren’t overpaid.

The players take a percentage of the income derived form cricket. They produce this income so it is their money.

They then take a pay cut to help pay state cricketers which they subsidize.

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- vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
  
  Dave 1…This is more a moral than a market judgement.You are right the cricketers get what the market thinks they are worth.
  
  However when you represent your country,and it is an honour,there is a responsibility that goes with the paycheck. Cricketers are subject to annual reviews but they dont get docked pay for a bad game. They deserve their pay packets if they perform. If you live by market forces then you must be judged accordingly.
  
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  - Dave1 said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
    
    The palyers are paid a base retainer. The rest comes from match payments and bonuses and prizemony which is all performance based.
    
    http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/404267.html
    
    All players take a pay cut to pay for state cricketers.
    
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  - Freud of Football said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:52pm | Report comment
    
    Vinay, players mightn’t get their pay docked for a bad performance, instead they get dropped and can’t get back into the team. Being an international cricketer is a lot tougher gig than being a footballer, at least you can move to another club for a fat pay check, in cricket you are “stuck” with your country and only 11 players can represent in each match.
    
    Cricketers earn a lot but they have to put up with a lot, look at the increase in stress related injuries and the break up of players marriages over the past decade, they sacrifice a lot to play for their country.
    
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    - vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 7:16pm | Report comment
      
      I say dont get married! If you get dropped then theres always the IPL. Nobody forces them to play…some actually love the travel and the mateship on the road.
      
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sledgeross said | November 9th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment

Vinay, how do you think the “fringe” windies players will go over here? Obviously, there squad has had plenty of people run through it of late? Will we see a boletr like a Tino Best get a game, or will the other players come back in?

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- vinay verma said | November 9th 2009 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
  
  sledgeross,with Joel Garner as manager if the fringe players show form they will be picked. The most likely are Keamar Roach,Tonge and Adrian Barath. I see Barath opening with Gayle and a three man pace attack of Taylor,Roach and Tonge. Bravo the all rounder and Benn to do the slow boling. Gayle can bowl a bit. So I only see three changes. Tino Best ,I believe ,will miss out. Their batting with Nash at 6 and Ramdhin at 7 looks settled. I for one am not writing them off.
  
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Kersi Meher-Homji said | November 9th 2009 @ 5:33pm | Report comment

Hi all,

You have taken a detour from my post. We know that the Windies have their problems. But what about we Aussies? A series win in India in ODIs should not make us wear blinkers to our deficiencies.

Who will open Australia’s bowling? Will Lee and Siddle be fit against the Windies in the first Test? Who will open our batting, Katich and Watson or Katich and Hughes? Is Michael Clarke capable of scoring runs as consistently as in the past? He has not played a match in over a month. And Haddin has played only one match in that period.

Is Watson an all-rounder in the Andrew Flintoff, Jacques Kallis mould? I doubt it.

The Windies have nothing to lose. They will play with abandon and create a shock wave or two.

Mumbai to Brisbane is a long way in a short time. Ponting has a job in hand. I predict Marcus North to be Australia’s big hope.

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