Australia coach Mickey Arthur says a jaded Ricky Ponting needs a rest but he can’t afford to leave the veteran batsman out of his team with Michael Clarke injured.
Ponting, 37, has played all six of Australia’s Tests this summer as well as four one-day internationals but he’s yet to pass 10 in the triangular series, failing again with two in Friday night’s eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka at the SCG.
And Arthur says in an ideal world Ponting would be taking a break rather than preparing to lead Australia into battle once more against India at the Gabba on Sunday.
“If I have to be totally honest Ricky is a little bit jaded, like a couple of our Test players that have played all summer,” Arthur told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday.
“But that is the treadmill of international cricket and they have to find a way to make their performances count and have an impact on the team.”
Ponting himself conceded after Friday night’s loss that his own form was not satisfactory but said he had no intention to call time on his 374 one-day international career.
Arthur said there’s no doubt Ponting’s experience and knowledge are vital to Australia but that wouldn’t ensure a future at ODI level unless his performances start to improve.
“Every cricketer’s currency is performance, that’s what gets you into the Australian team,” he said.
“A character like Ricky Ponting is someone you want around the team all the time because he’s so inspirational, he’s still our fittest player and hardest trainer and he trains with the most intensity, he’s a fantastic example to every guy who comes into this team.
“Ricky is a class act, there is no way you can write off a champion like Ricky Ponting. He faced those same issues around the first couple of Test matches and he came through the Test series, had a great series against India and I hope he turns it around tomorrow.”
Ponting admits his form is nowhere near acceptable, but he hadn’t considered avoiding the captaincy in Clarke’s absence even though that leadership role is set to extend a game further with Clarke ruled out of Sunday’s clash in Brisbane.
“This week is nothing different for me, just got a little bit of added responsibility that I’ve had 170 times before,” he said.
“It’s nothing new to me but being able to make the team bounce back strongly for Sunday is something that we’ve all got to take on board.
“I’m going to have a leading role in that and I’m going to make sure I do everything I can to get the boys up on Sunday.”
Tasmanian skipper George Bailey joined the international squad in Brisbane on Saturday as cover with Clarke no longer available.
Victorian spinner Jon Holland is also with the squad in a cover role following Xavier Doherty’s back spasms in the lead-up to Friday’s match.
Sunday’s game begins at 1.20pm (1420 AEDT).
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jon Holland, Dave Hussey, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (13) | Page 1 of Comments
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February 19th 2012 @ 6:24am
Red Kev said | February 19th 2012 @ 6:24am | Report comment
This is exactly what is wrong with Australian cricket. The selectors, the coach, Cricket Australia are all afraid of a world (well a team) without Ricky Ponting. Until they get over that and sack his old, jaded, grumpy, under-performing ass the team will never succeed and reclaim no.1 status in all forms of the game. Ponting is posionous not inspirational – breaking TVs, glaring at players in the field, brooding darkly about every mistake he makes, and every mistake someone else makes when he’s the captain. The Australian team needs to stop this “transitional” bollocks and just start with a clean slate with Watson and Clarke as the senior pros and everyone over 30 forceably retired – that gives a team at least 4 years to grow together and gel as a unit without anyone hobbling off on their zimmer frame. Everyone knows Ponting can’t still be there after the back-to-back Ashes, they know he’s just holding on and taking up a spot, it cannot be good for team morale.
February 19th 2012 @ 10:53am
Disco said | February 19th 2012 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Hear hear. The fraternity of ex- and current players are all in absolute awe of someone who possesses many significant flaws.
Ponting’s presence and that of one of his close mates in the dressing room doesn’t seem to have an inspirational impact on the batsmen in their prime.
February 19th 2012 @ 8:36am
Al said | February 19th 2012 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Just wonder how much of a lasting effect, from both langers imput and ponting captaining the team to a demoralising loss, is going to kill off this new found spirit that the young Aussie team had…. To me the effect has been clear on the young batsmen from langers ‘help’. Not sure if the team can handle another ponting lead thrashing.. Even the bowlers seemed to not know what they were doing again… Starting to wonder if it really was mitchell Johnson’s head that done itself in or something else……?
February 19th 2012 @ 11:03am
Jason said | February 19th 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
What is the excuse for not picking Ferguson?
He’s a proven performer at international level and now seems to be running into form in the Ryobi?
February 19th 2012 @ 11:06am
Jason said | February 19th 2012 @ 11:06am | Report comment
And WTF? Jon Holland in the squad? What about Lyon, Smith, O’Keefe, Krezja, Beer, Hauritz (and probably several more I could think of).
February 19th 2012 @ 12:20pm
Brendon said | February 19th 2012 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
Dont see why Ponting is in the ODI team. Test, for sure. But he should have retired from ODI’s.
February 19th 2012 @ 1:14pm
Disco said | February 19th 2012 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
Tests neither.
February 19th 2012 @ 3:59pm
Rhys said | February 19th 2012 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
They have to call time on his ODI career NOW! Enough with the ‘we need his experience around the group line’ – he won’t be at the next World Cup, so he needs to be dropped to give a younger player the opportunity to cement a spot. If he can continue scoring some runs in Tests, I’ll concede he may still be able to contribute on the 2013 Ashes – but that should be the finish line for his career.
February 19th 2012 @ 5:25pm
Jason said | February 19th 2012 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
Ponting was excruciating today. 7 off 26 balls. India did the wrong thing in dismissing him.
February 19th 2012 @ 6:42pm
Red Kev said | February 19th 2012 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
2, 1, 6, 2, 7 … inspirational stuff from Ricky Ponting according to Uncle Arthur.
February 19th 2012 @ 8:40pm
Disco said | February 19th 2012 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
Form doesn’t matter to Mickey.
February 19th 2012 @ 8:42pm
Al said | February 19th 2012 @ 8:42pm | Report comment
Lol, only class that’s permanent…
February 20th 2012 @ 9:51am
dc said | February 20th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Punter putting himself first again. One of these senior ex players should be a real mate and tell him to give it away. That’s why I respect Damien Martyn. He knew when his time was up.