By Kersi Meher-Homji
January 14th 2010 @ 2:09am
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It’s time to go for the jugular in Hobart, Punter!
Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting gestures - AP Photo/Gautam Singh
Despite Australia’s surprise win in Sydney last week, Ricky Ponting must be feeling nervous for the first time since his Test debut in December 1995.
After being hit by West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach on the arm last month, Ponting has scored only 82 runs in his last five Test innings (2 vs the West Indies in Perth, 57 and 12 on the MCG, a first ball duck and 11 on the SCG – all against Pakistan) at a un-Ponting like average of 16.40.
This happens to the best of batsmen.
Remember the epidemic of low scores the great Greg Chappell went through in 1981-82?
Coincidentally, this was also against Pakistan and the West Indies. In five successive Test innings within 23 days from 15 December 1981 to 6 January 1982, Chappell had made 0, 0, 6, 12 and 0.
In all, he had struggled to score 18 runs at 3.60. Two of his ducks were off the first ball he had received.
Cartoonists had a field day depicting Chappell’s plight and a poster during the Sydney Test in January 1982 read: “Everyone got turkey for Christmas, our Greg got three Test ducks.”
Just as Chappell G soon discovered his best form in New Zealand, with a masterly 176 in the Christchurch Test, ‘Punter’ Ponting will silence his critics in the Hobart Test starting today.
Although he won’t show it, Ricky must be feeling a little uneasy this morning in his home State. He has even considered moving down the order.
As he told The Australian correspondent: “If I don’t think I’m the right person to bat there then I won’t bat there. If I think there’s someone else better equipped than me to bat at No.3, then that time may come [to move down the order].”
But back to where Ponting’s mastery began: his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the Perth Test almost 15 years ago.
After Sri Lanka was dismissed for 251, Australian batsmen took complete command. Openers Michael Slater (219) and skipper Mark Taylor (96) added 228, and when rookie Ponting came in at no. 5, the score was 3-422.
What a looooong wait to face one’s first ball in Test cricket! He was then nine days short of his 21st birthday. He was fifth out at 617 when Taylor declared and Australia won by an innings in four days.
How many runs did Ponting get?
96, the same score as his captain. The young stylish stroke-player was cruelly denied a century on debut. Umpire Khizar Hayat ruled him out lbw when replays showed that the ball was going over the stumps.
Oh, for a referral system then.
But Ponting was philosophical about it. He said that he was lucky to survive an outside edge first ball and “besides. I’d gladly cop 96 each hit”
Not bad philosophy from a 20 year-old and a future captain. Now, it’s back to the future.
Go for the jugular in Hobart, Punter!
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Brett McKay said | January 14th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
Kersi, it was interesting to read yesterday of Ponting’s thoughts about going down the order if necessary. Jameswm (I think, James?) and I wondered last week when the last time was that Ponting didn’t bat at 3 in a First Class game (night-watchmen aside, obviously). I wonder if he’s opening the door for Shane Watson (who on technique alone, would make a very good No.3)? Could Ponting and Mike Hussey become the experienced pros at 5 and 6 before too long??
Glad to see him batting in the nets without the armguard though, and I agree, he should go all out in his home Test.
Juat as an aside, you’re mention of Grag Chappell’s run drought in the 80s brings back memories of that classic crowd banner, “Viv whacks, Greg quacks!!”
Kersi Meher-Homji said | January 14th 2010 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Brett, the only time I can envisage Ponting not batting at no. 3 would be in an All-time great Australian team. Don Bradman would be the selectors’ choice. But I don’t think this will happen in a real life situation in near future.
In his Test debut Ricky did bat at no. 5.
Enjoyed the “Viv whacks, Greg quacks” banner. But for poor fielding, Ricky would have quacked for the second time in eleven days.
Pak fielders are Oz’s best mates.
formeropenside said | January 14th 2010 @ 11:07am | Report comment
I think GS Chappell picked up a double hundred in the midst of that lean trot somewhere. Punter should probably go to 5, with Hussey to 6. I imagine that for both, the attempt to recover the Ashes next season will be the last hurrah.
Brett McKay said | January 14th 2010 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Well, it’s worked Kersi, Ponting currently 100*, and after taking 111 balls to get to 50, he’s brought up the next 50 off 48 balls….
He’s going to have wished you wrote this article two months ago!!
Kersi Meher-Homji said | January 14th 2010 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
Just proves that everyone important reads The Roar, Punter included, don’t you think, Brett?!
Formeropenside, Greg Chappell scored a double century BEFORE his duck spree. After scoring 201 v. Pakistan in November 1981 in Brisbane, he made 22 and 0 in the next Test on the MCG. Then in the first Test v. WI, he scored 0 and 6 again on the MCG in December 1981 then 12 and 0 on the SCG in January 1982.
formeropenside said | January 14th 2010 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
I thought Chappell was having a rough trot before the 201 also, and didn’t check the scores you had cited as all falling after the double ton.
vinay verma said | January 14th 2010 @ 6:25pm | Report comment
Kersi, yesterday Ponting was voted THE PLAYER OF THE DECADE by Cricinfo. This is an award voted on by writers and former cricketers. For the record Kallis was a distant second and Gilchrist was third. Tendulkar Mc Grath and Warne all made the top ten.
In watching cricket for 50 years I find it hard to split Tendulkar,Ponting,Greg Chappell ,Dravidand Viv Richards. There is something to be said for Right handers. Before Roarers jump on me,I have deliberately not mentioned Garfield Sobers in the above list. For me he stands alone as the Greatest Cricketer that ever played the game.
Brett McKay said | January 14th 2010 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
Vinay, God made few perfect batsmen. The rest He made right-handed
Kersi Meher-Homji said | January 14th 2010 @ 7:19pm | Report comment
I would place Warne, Tendulkar and Gilchrist on top for the decade, then Ponting, McGrath, Murali, Kallis, Dravid, Kumble, Lara, Sangakkara, Jayasuriya, Hayden, the Waugh twins, Dhoni and Flintoff.
Fisher Price said | January 15th 2010 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Mark Waugh – pah!