Ricky Ponting, you are the weakest link: Goodbye!
Roar Pro By Red Kev, 20 Feb 2012 Red Kev is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, One day cricket, Ricky Ponting
Australia has now played five ODIs this summer, and Ricky Ponting has contributed 18 runs (2, 1, 6, 2, and 7) at a strike rate of 27.
That is the worst record of any batsman used in the series (and Australia’s batting overall has been poor). It is unacceptable from a specialist batsman, especially one that either opens or comes in at first drop.
It is not just that he is getting out either; it is how he is getting out.
After convincing the fickle public (although not this observer) that he had overcome his batting difficulties in the Test series against India this summer, Ponting has gone back to falling toward the offside with his head outside the line of the ball, and getting out cheaply.
Why the difference between the Tests and the ODIs, given that his Test double-century was only a few weeks ago?
Two reasons, both mental (and as any sportsperson will attest, more than half of any success at the top level is mental).
One: the Indians care about limited overs cricket. Their bowling is sharper, their fielding is unrecognisable. With the white ball they believe they are a match for anyone.
India, and Sri Lanka for that matter, are here to win, their attitude and play is far more competitive, and so Ponting is not getting the easy run he had in the tests.
Two: Ponting himself is ageing (both his reflexes and his mental application are ‘looser’ than they used to be). Ricky Ponting now is not the same batsman who won three consecutive ODI World Cups as Australia’s number three.
He is no longer a flamboyant stroke-maker and dominator of attacks, he is now a middle-order grinder who has to focus and work hard for his runs. He is clearly not capable of focussing and working hard every innings.
It is not as though the selectors can claim that no-one is banging on the door either.
This season alone, Usman Khawaja’s Ryobi Cup average is 108 at a strike rate of 90 (two centuries in two matches with one to come on Feb 22). His career List-A average is over 40, though he has played fewer than 20 games. However his Shield form since being dropped has been poor, and it is too early to recall him.
Michael Klinger (ODD season average 52.13), Callum Ferguson (ODD season average 56.00) and Tom Cooper (ODD season average 87.75) are enjoying good Ryobi Cup seasons despite mediocre Shield seasons.
George Bailey (ODD season average 34.29) and Rob Quiney (ODD season average 44.29) are doing well in both the Ryobi Cup and the Sheffield Shield, as is Test opener Ed Cowan (ODD season average 58.00) who should not be pigeon-holed as a long-format specialist.
Any of those six would be a better option in the ODIs than Ricky Ponting.
The selectors are clearly scared of being remembered as the people who tapped Ricky Ponting on the shoulder and told him it was time.
But it is time, and if they were evaluating him rationally and under fair criteria he wouldn’t be retained in the side or on the plane to the West Indies. In truth, he should not have played any international cricket since the Boxing Day test of 2010.
Ricky, it’s time to take a bow and exit stage left, at least from ODIs. In my opinion your time is up in all formats of international cricket, though I don’t think the selectors will drop you from the Test side just yet.
Nonetheless, do the right thing and bow out of limited-overs cricket.
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- Australian Cricket, Cricket, One day cricket, Ricky Ponting
February 20th 2012 @ 8:01am
jamesb said | February 20th 2012 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Red Kev
its actually rare for players these days to be successful in two forms of cricket at international level when they are 37 or 38.
We’ve seen it with Tendulkar this summer and now Ponting. Lee has retired from test cricket, but still has a spring in his step in the ODIs even though his 35.
Pontings not going to play in the 2015 world cup. So if anything he should retire from ODIs, if he wants to prolong his test career. There are some options that you mentioned as far as his replacements are concerned.
In test cricket, you can take you time when you start your innings, but in one dayers, you need to get on with it. Ponting has failed to get on with it.
February 20th 2012 @ 8:44am
Vas Venkatramani said | February 20th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Red Kev, the spate of vitriol you direct at Ricky Ponting is unjustified, regardless of how valid your statistical points are calling for his axing. Rarely does a post with your name get written without some blase comment about how Ponting is holding Australian cricket back.
I would argue Ponting should have given ODIs away after the World Cup loss to India, because I felt it was a time when Ponting had achieved everything there was in the pyjamas. Him staying on now (despite still being an excellent fielder – something you fail to acknowledge) does not benefit Australian cricket in any way, regardless of whether his average was 2.75 or 200.75.
I thought Ponting should be retained for the Test series against India, and the decision to keep him was justified. With no-one putting their hand up in the Shield, plus Shaun Marsh’s horrible run of outs, Ponting will be needed in the West Indies.
February 20th 2012 @ 9:30am
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
(1) This story is about the ODIs. I deliberately point out that I think he should be gone from the test side, but that (a) he won’t be dropped and (b) that he just scored a double ton in tests a month ago. What more do you want me to do? I don’t do puff-prices like Dan Brettig the CA spin doctor.
(2) If you just wanted a brilliant fielder Steve Smith would be in the side, he’s younger, faster and has better reflexes for catching and run outs than Ricky Ponting does. Perhaps not Ricky Ponting in his prime, but certainly Ricky Ponting now. Also, why do you fail to acknowledge that in 2 of the 5 ODIs Ponting’s fielding has been woeful, with several misfields. He brought it back up to standard last night, but there wasn’t really any pressure on in the field either.
(3) Calling for Ricky Ponting’s axing from the side is not unjustified.
His experience is not necessary in the side; not for Clarke to captain effectively, not for others to listen to. There are better performing veterans. What can Ponting offer in terms of words and assistance that Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke cannot? Do you not consider that seeing how hard Ricky Ponting works (and it comes up in every supporting article that he is putting in so much work) … do you not consider that seeing him put in so much work and still fail so miserably is not “inspirational” but detrimental to the team?
Futhermore the selectors explicitly stated (and implicitly demonstrated through Peter Forrest’s selection) that the ODIs are a vehicle for testing out players on the international arena without the furnace like intensity and scrutiny of a test match. How do you reconcile that with packing the batting order with Ponting (37), M Hussey (36), D Hussey (34), Clarke (30) and if he was fit Watson (30)?
What does Ricky Ponting offer the team?
It can’t be mentoring as recently players who have entered the Australian setup have left damaged not enhanced (North, Hughes, Khawaja, Marsh).
It certainly isn’t runs.
Unneeded leadership? Clarke is captain and he doesn’t need Ponting’s assistance (and if he lacks the confidence in his own ability to do the job without Ponting then he shouldn’t have it at all – but I think everyone knows that isn’t the case).
Just because I keept posting the same thing does not make it vitriol, nor does it make it incorrect. In fact you agree with my point of view (that Ponting is holding Australian cricket back) – you have posted as much saying that Ponting should retire after the test series against India and before the tests against the West Indies because Clarke would not need him anymore (you believed that Clarke did need Ponting against India); and above “does not benefit Australian cricket in any way”.
So what is your problem? You agreed with my point then disparaged my posts and by extension me personally. I am surprised at you Vas; your thinking is usually clearer, and your posts usually worth reading.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:28am
Vas Venkatramani said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Where was the personal disparaging Kev? Please direct me to the part of my post that I “disparaged” you. Was it my remark that your comments were vitriolic? I refer that to your comment Kev, not yourself. Please note that distinction was made in my original post.
I don’t need cheerleading journalism. As an ex-journo myself, I found that kind of journalism is neither honest nor impartial. But nor is journalism that seeks to make headlines by criticising all in near sight.
Ricky Ponting might be past his use-by date, but he can still offer something good to the team. The real question is whether anyone else can offer something better. Those names you mentioned certainly are capable of doing so, but that doesn’t make Ponting a poor player.
The ideal scenario would be that Ponting would retire now. But after the poor performance by Marsh, Khawaja’s uncertain run in the Shield, and Watson’s possible return from injury, Ponting is becoming crucial again for the West Indies Test tour. But he isn’t needed in ODIs anymore (and hasn’t been needed since the World Cup).
February 20th 2012 @ 10:37am
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Yeah, I could really see Ponting lighting up the Shield if he was forced to play in it…
February 20th 2012 @ 11:33am
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 11:33am | Report comment
I said “by extension” and the reason I said it was that you agree with my conclusion, (apparently) have no problem with the facts or analysis I put forward but still saw fit to criticise.
February 20th 2012 @ 1:41pm
Vas Venkatramani said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
The facts and figures are definitely valid, and when you have five scores of single figures on the trot, no way can that be spun into a positive. For that reason, the question mark over Ponting in ODI cricket is very much justified.
What I have a problem with is a driven agenda from yourself that Ponting (whether playing well or not) needs to go. This rhetoric is repeated by yourself ad nauseum that it is almost like all of the problems confronting Australian cricket currently is due to the selectors’ reluctance to drop an out-of-form champion. Forgive me for thinking the challenges confronting Australian cricket runs a little deeper than that, and will only be partially addressed if Ponting is dumped.
I completely understand the merit of dropping Ponting so that a newcomer can make good of an opportunity presented to him. I understand more the notion that Ponting’s form does not warrant selection.
But at the same time, if Ponting is selected, I will support him to the death, for he is wearing that baggy green cap and the green/gold pyjamas and representing my country. But that doesn’t seem to be your mantra. Yours is more on the line of hoping for failure to justify your argument…
February 20th 2012 @ 4:59pm
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Which is exactly why it is personally disparaging – because you agree with the message just not the messenger.
Two things before I go:
(1) If you can’t find fault with your own thinking in that post (that apparently you think I have a duty to shut up and support Ricky Ponting just because he was selected) then there is no hope for you.
(2) Don’t put words in my mouth or ascribe motive to me in order to justify your own preconceived notions. I don’t hope for failure to justify my arguments – my arguments regarding Ponting stand on their own merit.
Good day sir.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:33am
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Much better to just pander to Ponting’s ego like all the Cricket Australia employees.
February 20th 2012 @ 2:54pm
WoobliesFan said | February 20th 2012 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
THIS!
February 20th 2012 @ 12:38pm
brendon said | February 20th 2012 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
totally agree Vas
February 20th 2012 @ 9:40am
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Ponting’s recent run of form against India in the Test series, along with the lack of runs from the generally accepted candidates (Khawaja, Marsh etc) mean he will be on the plane to the WIndies Test series, as he should.
I agree that his time is up in the ODI side. Not only is he on a poor run of form but also, as you mentioned there are plenty of candidates that are in good enough touch to come in and replace him (and we still need to fit Clarke and Watson back in.) When you also add in the fact that he won’t be around until the 2015 WC, and that the team has plenty of experienced players in better form, he seems the logical candidate to exit the side now so that we can slowly build towards 2015.
Thought you were a bit harsh on Cooper’s SS season. 4th leading run scorer at 48.71 is mediocre? You’re a cruel man
As an aside, Liam Davis is having a blinder of a season in the Shield as well. Just made 303* against NSW and he was already averaging a tick above fifty before that innings. Could be a Cowan-esque late(ish) bloomer.
February 20th 2012 @ 9:59am
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Perhaps worth clarifying that “on the plane to the West Indies” refers to the ODI squad that will be sent over first, the test-only players will be sent over after the Shield finishes (and the ODI-only players will be sent home).
You’re right that is harsh on Cooper, I should have looked more closely.
I have Davis in a “too soon” list with Burns, Maddinson and Mitch Marsh. But I did wonder yesterday if the selectors would look at him as a smokey for the West Indies tour (although I still consider Forrest and Bailey as the front-runners in that order to make the plane).
February 20th 2012 @ 10:09am
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:09am | Report comment
True, I did mean test series only.
I would give Davis another season to get some consistency as well. Even though he’s 27, so not a kid anymore, this is really the first season where he’s looked like a potential candidate. I would also have Wade ahead of Nevill for the very same reason (plus Wade has done quite well in the ODI side so far)
February 20th 2012 @ 10:42am
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Precisely. Davis has mostly looked out of his depth at first-class level until this season.
February 20th 2012 @ 11:41am
Gordon Smith said | February 20th 2012 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Davis problem is he does not play in the East – Hogan is the leading wicket taker in the shield and never gets a mention.
We hear a lot about O’keefe, Nevill etc on average returns – the sheild match in Perth highlights the advantage of playing for NSW – a team full of Aust and promoted players lose by innings and 300 runs.
If David Hussey played for NSW he would have played test cricket by now.
Davis averages over 80 but “needs more time’ whilst others are advocating an immediate promotion of Nevill.
February 20th 2012 @ 11:58am
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Given the strength of the fast-bowling ranks at the moment, it’s no real surprise that Hogan isn’t getting a mention, despite his good performances. There’s simply no spot for him. Who would you leave out for him?
Davis has had a fantastic season. However despite that his career record is mediocre. He does need more time to ensure that he can perform consistently at the level (not 300* every week but a medium term average of around 50 would be nice) as opposed to being a player simply going through a “hot streak.”
Besides he also has the misfortune of being an opener which right now is being filled fairly well by Warner and Cowan, with Watson still to return. Don’t forget how long it took Phil Jaques to make the side despite scoring mountains of runs for 2-3 seasons (though he was behind better players then those in the current side.)
Nevill on the other hand is competing for what seems more and more likely to be a vacant keeping spot, though Wade is deservedly leading that race. I can’t speak for the others but I’ve also advocated that Nevill needs to perform over at least one more season (though his career average is 49 compared to davis’ 37.)
February 20th 2012 @ 12:23pm
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Yeah, WA players are clearly always ignored. Ryan Campbell and Luke Ronchi and Adam Voges and Brad Williams and Luke Pomersbach and Marcus North and Shaun Marsh never got a chance did they?
Meanwhile, in the real world Michael Beer has played Test cricket and O’Keefe hasn’t.
February 20th 2012 @ 12:54pm
jameswm said | February 20th 2012 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Nevill didn’t play against WA. Instead we had Haddin scoring a pair.
Nevill should have played as a specialist batsman (or Haddin). The side was too bowler-heavy.
February 20th 2012 @ 1:08pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
I’m not sure how we didn’t play Nevill, even it was just as a batsman. You’d think that a season average of 60, and being the leading run scorer for your team, would be enough to get a spot. It was clearly a team picked on reputation as opposed to performance/form and we got what we deserved.
February 20th 2012 @ 1:10pm
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
Not that I disagree with your point about Nevill, but describing NSW as bowler-heavy when they managed to take only 3 wickets is somewhat amusing.
I guess NSW were already out of the running for the shield so they could afford to be nice, but a stronger coach might have said to Watson (and Cricket Australia) if he’s only fit enough to bowl 3x 4-over spells then he’s not fit enough for a four-day first class match.
February 20th 2012 @ 1:30pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
RK, they also got skittled for 90 and 140 on what was a flat wicket. They only got 140 in the 2nd innings because Hauritz made 40odd as well. Injuries to Bollinger, Hazlewood and Cummins and Starc’s national call up have crippled NSW’s fast bowling stocks.
They played 4 bowlers and 3 all rounders (O’Keefe, Smith and Watson) so they probably could have afforded to leave out a Hauritz or O’keefe, especially given it was at the WACA. Though Hauritz did well for NSW last season, before getting injured, and O’Keefe is the captain so that’s a bit difficult. I’d imagine that if Watson was more match-fit they would have used him as the 3rd quick and dropped van der Gugten or Lalor.
I’d say that Watson is good enough to be in the first XI of a Shield side as a batsman. Maybe not the test side but definitley a Shield side. He was also 2nd top scorer in both innings, though in this game that’s not saying much!
February 20th 2012 @ 7:08pm
aussie1st said | February 20th 2012 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Don’t think you got your examples right by including SOK and Nevill. SOK is the only spinner in the country with an average under 30, how he hasn’t been picked yet is beyond me. Nevill has the best stats of any keeper in the country and easily the next best behind Wade.
As for Davis, well Forrest seems to be one of the contenders for a test spot given he was picked in the ODI side with a view for Test and he has only had one good season too.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:17am
Chris said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
There’s an easy option in the short term – assuming Clarke is fit for the next game, swap out Ponting and bring in Clarke. Interesting that the coach has come out and admitted that Ponting is not up to scratch at the moment. “Jaded” was the word he used.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:34am
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:34am | Report comment
The next match is in Hobart so he’s 100% certain to play that one. He might miss the SCG game on Sunday though. Given Arthur’s comments over the weekend, it seems pretty clear that they intended to rest him at the GABBA but felt they couldn’t because of Clarke’s injury.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:24am
jameswm said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
It’s funny that as you run out of form, it is more of an issue the shorter the form. You feel under scoreboard oressure in short forms but in tests you are under less of that pressure, and worried more about not getting out.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:38am
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
True. His strike rate of 27 this series backs that up as well. He looks like he’s trying to scratch his way to 20 or so and try to get his eye in but he’s not able to do that in ODI ricket. Certainly 7 off 26 like he got yesterday isn’t good enough. Maybe he needs to change his approach and go aggressive? Try to hit his way back into form.
February 20th 2012 @ 10:45am
Chris said | February 20th 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Try telling that to Usman Khawaja…
February 20th 2012 @ 11:38am
jameswm said | February 20th 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Yeah the different types of pressures act differently on different batsmen. Ferguson for example has no problem ticking over the scoreboard, it’s getting out that’s his problem.
Matt I certainly think he needs his zones, and if it’s in one of his zones, then hit it. That’s the way Warner bats – except as he gets his eye in, the zones get bigger and the bowler’s margin for error smaller.
February 20th 2012 @ 12:05pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Very true. In any form of cricket it’s vital to be able to work away singles and rotate the strike, though as the format gets shorter this gets more important. Right now Ponting is struggling to do this which is his big problem. If your timing is not right you still need to be able to rotate the strike to ease the pressure. It’s what made, or makes, the likes of Bevan and Hussey such great ODI players (Ferguson showed the similar quality when he was in the side.) I think Forrest will also have this issue when he hits a rough patch. Even though he’s done well so far, he still seems to have a few too many dot balls.
February 21st 2012 @ 10:46am
Disco said | February 21st 2012 @ 10:46am | Report comment
It’s certainly hard to imagine that Forrest would be a more successful international batsman than Khawaja.
Of course, he might be considered to fit into “the group” better.
February 20th 2012 @ 12:42pm
Johnno said | February 20th 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
It’s time to bring back Phil Hughes, he will be the awnser to Australia’s cricket problems. He should never of been dropped. Australia’s most unlucky cricketer. From the moment they dropped him in 2009 ASHES Phil Hughes has not been the same since. Well let’s restore some confidence in him and recall him to the test, and ODI , and T20 side.
February 20th 2012 @ 1:32pm
Vas Venkatramani said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:32pm | Report comment
Johnno, it is not right to bring back Phillip Hughes and then subject him to every microscopic scrutiny imaginable when he has not had enough opportunities to rectify an obvious technical weakness in his game.
We can all wax lyrical about how the selectors dudded him in 2009 (a point very few doubt), but the reality is the boy has his confidence broken, and the last place he should seek to restore it is in full open view of Test cricket.
He needs seasons with NSW, Western Suburbs and also a couple of years at an English county that will help him learn that batting in the longer form is about placing a premium on your wicket. The good news is that he’s 23 and has time on his side to learn these lessons and still carve out a successful international career (if he’s good enough)…
February 20th 2012 @ 1:56pm
jameswm said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
I doubt. I agreed with his dropping in England. He was just all over the place.
He needs to be still on impact. It’s as simple as that.
He sure as hell ain’t ready to come back yet.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:23pm
Col said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
Geez, Hughes had played 6 Tests, all away from home vs South Africa and England, for 2 tons, 1 fifty and was ave 52 when he got dropped in England…….all over the place?
At the same stage of his career Warner has played 6 Tests, all at home vs New Zealand, for 2 tons, no fifties at an ave of 52. Ashwin made him look ordinary on a flat one in Adelaide in both digs. Think he should be dropped?
February 20th 2012 @ 1:43pm
The Barry said | February 20th 2012 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
“He offers so much more to the team than just runs” seems to be a fairly modern phenomenon. It’s funny how in this day and age of batting, bowling, fielding coaches, head coach, physio, doctor, conditioner, dieticians, psychologists, etc that Australian teams should be so much more reliant on the off-field support of non-performing players than their counterparts from 30 – 130 years ago who only had a captain, with no coach or off-field support and were picked on their on-field form.
Of course Ponting should go. He won’t (or shouldn’t) be in the World Cup squad and is taking the place of someone who will (or should). As great as he’s been 37 year olds don’t (or shouldn’t) get as many chances to find form. The risk is so much higher that they never will.
You could argue that Pontings career-saving test knocks were on batsmen friendly wickets against a limp lettuce leaf attack that didn’t care and that he got the best of conditions in all of his big innings. I’ll predict that he will go on another poor run of test form and we’ll all be questioning his spot in the test side again in 6-9 months time. Particularly if Kemar Roach scones him again.
February 20th 2012 @ 3:41pm
Dan said | February 20th 2012 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Go Punter!
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February 20th 2012 @ 4:17pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
It looks like you’ve got your wish after all RK!
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2012/2/20/odi-squad-2002
Ponting gone with Clarke and Watson in. Starc also gone with Harris back.
Also mentions their plan to take Haddin and Wade to the WIndies. Obviously they were very impressed by Haddin’s pair in the Shield game…..
February 20th 2012 @ 5:01pm
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
I can’t say I agree with rushing Watson back in when by all reports is bowling was so far below par in the Shield game. Surely with Christian performing so well as an all-rounder they could have afforded to leave Watson with NSW to play in the Ryobi Cup game on Feb 22 (and perhaps even the Shield match on March 1-4). Oh well, time will tell, if he collapses again (or fails with the bat) they will only have themselves to blame.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:12pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
I’m not sure which reports you read about his bowling being below par? He got 1-16 off 12 overs. It was the lowest economy rate of any bowler on either team for the match. He didn’t bowl many overs but that still looks to be a very good return. Short on quantity but high on quality, especially when you consider WA made 3/560!
They can’t really drop Christian after his performance yesterday so it wouldn’t surprise me if Watson/Christian/DHussey shared the 5th and maybe even 4th bowling duties. This would ease Watson’s workload a bit as well. They could quite easily only pick 3 specialist bowlers for Hobart.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:32pm
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
3x 4-over spells out of 171 bowled by NSW at “well below top pace”.
He didn’t bowl poorly, just well below his best (or of full fitness if you prefer).
February 20th 2012 @ 6:27pm
Matt F said | February 20th 2012 @ 6:27pm | Report comment
I agree that he’s not 100% fit and it certainly goes against Pat Howards “no less then 100%”claim from a while back, but they obviously think that he’s fit enough. He won’t be bowling more then 4-5 overs at a time anyway on Friday and I doubt they’d bowl his full compliment of overs just yet. As for his pace, well as long as his line and length are fine he’ll do a decent job. I don’t think that he’s at any increased risk of injury playing for Australia on Friday then playing for NSW on Wednesday.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:12pm
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
Haddin’s form is irrelevant to Uncle Arthur and co.
Risking Watson in the ODIs seems rather unhinged.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:15pm
formeropenside said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
Well done Kev waiting until halfway through your article to mention Khawaja. You showed great restraint.
I do agree that Ponting’s future as a ODI player is limited, and that there is not a spot for him in the team at present.
February 20th 2012 @ 5:25pm
Red Kev said | February 20th 2012 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
Haha! I know, I am glad someone noticed. But did you see I also said he shouldn’t be in the team (yet) – an astonishing break from the norm I think you will agree.
February 20th 2012 @ 6:34pm
Disco said | February 20th 2012 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
Usman who…? Is that guy who’s persona non grata with the boys’ club?
February 21st 2012 @ 9:47am
WoobliesFan said | February 21st 2012 @ 9:47am | Report comment
HA!
I don’t doubt for a minute there’s no truth to that.
Clarke’s little boys club is breaking up, peice by peice….Hughes, now Ponting……I’m getting the popcorn and watching how this one unfolds over the next several months.
February 21st 2012 @ 10:48am
Disco said | February 21st 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Well, if so, then Khawaja should find himself picked for the Australian Test team based on performance; just as certain others won’t because of their continued poor showings.