Ponting stays on to seek Ashes redemption
Columnist By David Lord, 22 Feb 2012 David Lord is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Ashes, Australian Cricket, Cricket, Ricky Ponting
Australian batsman Ricky Ponting (right) and Mike Hussey make their way from the ground at tea on the third day of the first test between Australian and India at the MCG in Melbourne, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Related coverage
Ricky Ponting has redemption firmly in his in mind. He has every intention to be on the Ashes tour to England in 2013, where he lost the last two series in 2005 and 2009 as captain.
And that has cut deep.
Being remembered as the only Australian captain to lose successive Ashes series in England during the 21st century doesn’t sit well with this proud Aussie.
Billy Murdoch was the first to set the unwanted record in the 19th century. They are the only two.
So even his most severe critics must admire Ponting’s confidence in his belief to last until 2013, especially as he’s on the wrong side of 37. And despite the fact John Inverarity and his selection panel have ended his ODI career after 375 appearances.
“Whether I go to England is entirely up to me,” explained the former skipper to a packed media conference at the SCG yesterday. And he’s dead right.
All he has to do is score consistent runs as he did in the series against India with 62, 60, 134, 7, 221, 60*, and he’s most definitely bound for another appearance at Lords – his fifth.
By any standards that’s a huge ask. But don’t underestimate Ricky Ponting.
Inverarity did when he wrongfully presumed Ponting would retire from Test cricket after his ODI axing.
Redemption has been joined by resolve. Ponting won over a lot of knockers yesterday by his upbeat approach to the rest of his stellar career.
His biggest problem from here on will be getting enough first-class cricket to sustain roughly 13 Tests every 12 months. He’ll only be on international duty for a quarter of the year.
So Tasmania will be high on the agenda, including 50-over games, and Twenty20s.
It’s already been confirmed Ponting’s in the Tasmanian Ryobi Cup final lineup against South Australia in Adelaide on Saturday.
It will be Ponting’s first domestic one-dayer in over four years, his seventh in 10.
If the Tassie Tigers get up, it will be the first time in nearly two decades Ponting has lifted silverware for his home state.
Let’s face it, Ponting’s cricketing life has been dramatically changed forever.
It’s how he handles it will decide if his resolve is strong enough to allow redemption.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
The Crowd Says (17) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Ashes, Australian Cricket, Cricket, Ricky Ponting
February 22nd 2012 @ 9:01am
Chris said | February 22nd 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
My feeling is the critical series is the upcoming one in the West Indies. If Ponting can score well there, he’s home and hosed for the Ashes in 2013.
My reasoning is that the next series after that are two short ones each in Australia next summer (against SL and SA). Even if he dones’t perform then, the selectors will be loath to drop him “on the eve of an Ashes tour”. So my thinking is that he will make it – whether he performs adequately remains to be seen, but my fear is that he fails and a couple of years later admits that he played on a couple of years too long.
February 22nd 2012 @ 1:14pm
Red Kev said | February 22nd 2012 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
There’s a 4-test tour to India right before the Ashes. If he survives until then that is the more critical tour as historically India has not been a happy hunting ground for Ponting.
February 22nd 2012 @ 3:00pm
Chris said | February 22nd 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
My point still stands though – the selectors would argue it is too close to the Ashes to make such a significant change.
February 22nd 2012 @ 3:41pm
Red Kev said | February 22nd 2012 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Three days ago I would have agreed with you.
February 25th 2012 @ 12:31am
Lolly said | February 25th 2012 @ 12:31am | Report comment
The English bowling attack is better than it was in 2009. I’m not sure that it matters if Punter goes or not. I can’t see any of our current batsmen matching it wilh theirs.
February 22nd 2012 @ 10:16am
WoobliesFan said | February 22nd 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
Redemption?
Give us a break.
What happened to redemption in 2010-11 after the 2009 loss?
Moreover, there is something not quite right about a player who lost 3 Ashes series as a captain, whose form is in sad decline, who has been dropped from the ODI team, yet still talking about redemption as if he’s an integral part of winning back the ashes.
I’m actually starting to suspect that onset of dementia with Ponting…..for he’s the only one in Australia who doesn’t see that he isn’t even half the man he use to be.
February 22nd 2012 @ 10:54am
Trav said | February 22nd 2012 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Maybe you should be tested for dementia Wooblies, he avegaged 108.8 in his last test series.
February 22nd 2012 @ 11:23am
WoobliesFan said | February 22nd 2012 @ 11:23am | Report comment
I wouldn’t be using the lamest of opponents as a guage for Ponting’s batting average.
India were a joke.
Look back to recent series against SA, NZ and England. In fact, apart from a couple of good innings against Pakistan in 2010, it’s all been bad, sad and grumpy.
Ditch him now before he becomes too much of a dead-weight to bear.
February 22nd 2012 @ 11:48pm
Brendon said | February 22nd 2012 @ 11:48pm | Report comment
Such a joke that Cowan couldnt score a century. Infact, most of the top order struggle against India, Warner had 1 great innings, and Clarke, Ponting and Hussey bailed Australia out.
February 23rd 2012 @ 7:36am
Disco said | February 23rd 2012 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Yeah, sorry, India’s bowling was top-class throughout the series. Better?
February 23rd 2012 @ 7:32am
Disco said | February 23rd 2012 @ 7:32am | Report comment
Obsession, more like. Vanity project, probably. Cult of Ponting, definitely.
February 22nd 2012 @ 1:19pm
Red Kev said | February 22nd 2012 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
In the meantime England managed to drag themselves back into form with a 4-0 drubbing of Pakistan in the ODI series (after they got embarrassed 0-3 in the tests). Back-to-back hundreds from Cook in the first two games followed by back-to-back hundreds from Pieterson in the next two.
Who’s form will fail first, Ponting’s or England’s?
February 22nd 2012 @ 11:51pm
Brendon said | February 22nd 2012 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
So what if England beat Pakistan in an ODI series. We beat England 6-1 in the ODI series in 2009 and 2010-11.
February 22nd 2012 @ 2:47pm
Brian said | February 22nd 2012 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
If the minor miracle occurs and Ponting stars as Australia regain the Ashes on English soil in August 2013 would he not then stay until the next series which is the Ashes again in 2013-14?
February 22nd 2012 @ 2:56pm
Matt F said | February 22nd 2012 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
I can’t see why he wouldnt. I think most people neglect to mention the home series because we’ve forgotten how close it is to the one in England. It’s usually 18 months later, not 6.
February 22nd 2012 @ 4:20pm
Rhys said | February 22nd 2012 @ 4:20pm | Report comment
There might be some redemption for Ponting as a player, but there’ll be no redemption for him as a Captain. If anything, a Clarke led Ashes win in 2013 might even have a bittersweet aspect to it for Ponting, with his young protege achieving something he never could.
February 22nd 2012 @ 9:05pm
Bearfax said | February 22nd 2012 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
I’ve always considered its about performance. To me if Ponting is able to still at times almost carry Australia’s batting line up with Clarke, he still deserves to be there. The one dayers are another issue. He’s been failing for a while now and no sign of recovery, so he’s out. Oz is rebuilding. With Watson back, the test team seems set with Warner, Cowen, Clarke, Ponting, Hussey, Watson and Wade. In a year that team may be entirely different but for now that seems the best test team we have to offer.
ps Two players of note. Cowen has been a surprise packet to me and perhaps I have under estimated his resilience. He deserves his spot. Watson. There is no other all rounder in the country his equal and though he hasnt played for a time, I would have him straight back in. And Haddin’s time is up I’m afraid.