Ponting set for Bellerive Test bonanza
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Ricky Ponting could break Steve Waugh’s mark as Australia’s most-capped Test cricketer in front of home state fans in Hobart after the international summer schedule was announced on Thursday.
If Ponting plays the three Tests to open the summer against South Africa in November, the scene will be set for him to create Australian cricket history at Bellerive Oval in the first match of another three-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Former national skipper Ponting sits on 165 Tests, just three shy of the record mark of 168 set by Waugh, his predecessor as captain.
The 37-year-old’s Test career appeared on the ropes last summer, until he produced a breakthrough century in Sydney and a stirring double ton in Adelaide against India.
It seems Ponting, the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, is determined to continue through to next year’s Ashes series.
The Gabba will host its first Test against South Africa in 49 years when world heavyweights the Proteas start their campaign in Brisbane on November 9.
South Africa beat Australia 2-1 when they last toured in 2008-09, and drew 1-1 with Michael Clarke’s team when they met in a dramatic two-match series last year in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The Proteas can go to No.1 in the Test rankings if they beat England in a three-match series starting in the UK on Thursday, and will finish off their Australian tour with Tests in Adelaide (November 22-26) and Perth (November 30-December 4).
It was a shame last year’s series between South Africa and Australia didn’t have a third-match finale – and this latest series will serve as an eagerly-awaited rematch.
Last November, Australia collapsed to be all out for 47 in the first match at Newlands after being 9-21 at one stage. But the tourists rallied to record an unlikely two-wicket win at The Wanderers as light began to fade on the fifth day.
Sri Lanka begin their first Test visit to Australia since 2007 in Hobart on December 18.
Then Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test and Sydney the New Year’s Test to wrap up the series – as Sri Lanka look to break through for a maiden five-day win Down Under.
From Sri Lanka’s 10 Test matches in Australia, two draws are the best they’ve been able to come up with.
Sri Lanka came to Australia last summer for a triangular one-day series with India, where they were ultimately beaten 2-1 in the finals by the Aussies.
In mid-2011, Australia managed a series win in Sri Lanka in Clarke’s first Test series as skipper.
The twin Test series will be followed by a pair of five-match, head-to-head one-day international series – the first against Sri Lanka and the second against the West Indies. There are also two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka and one against the West Indies.
The ODI series against the West Indies will be highlighted by the first international cricket match featuring Australia in Canberra.
The summer will feature 43 days of international cricket plus three tour matches against South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
© AAP 2013
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- Australian Cricket, Cricket, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh
July 20th 2012 @ 2:30am
John said | July 20th 2012 @ 2:30am | Report comment
with Ponting in your side you’ll be lucky to win a raffle in England
July 20th 2012 @ 8:49am
Disco said | July 20th 2012 @ 8:49am | Report comment
Ponting’s dismissals at Hobart last year were, um, entertaining.
July 20th 2012 @ 12:53pm
Rhys said | July 20th 2012 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
So I’m guessing it’s a given that he’ll remain in the team (regardless of form) until at least the Hobart Test. $utherland won’t want CA to miss out on the box office bonanza that Ponting’s presence will surely guarantee.
July 20th 2012 @ 3:08pm
Disco said | July 20th 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Yep. Totally pathetic.
July 20th 2012 @ 4:52pm
k77sujith said | July 20th 2012 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
He might be struggling but never write off class acts such as Ponting. I’d like to see him play the Tests and makes the Ashes as well. Playing against the best could just bring out the champ in him. Thanks.
July 20th 2012 @ 5:03pm
Disco said | July 20th 2012 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
Ponting doesn’t need your backing. He’s got sycophantic support in all the right places.
July 20th 2012 @ 10:11pm
DJW said | July 20th 2012 @ 10:11pm | Report comment
If Ponting had any sense he wouldn’t subject himself to another Ashes, the English bowlers will have a field day with him, especially in English conditions.
Surely time to blood someone ready for the ashes. Maybe give Usi some consectutive tests to get into form?
July 21st 2012 @ 10:05am
Disco said | July 21st 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
But, oh, no Ponting’s talking about how motivated he is, saying how well he batted in the West Indies. Clarke will be praising Punter’s net cricket form in no time.
July 21st 2012 @ 10:33am
Johnno said | July 21st 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
The boy from tough working class Mowbray is all grown up now. Looking forwad to punter breaking tugga’s record at Belrieve. A certain selection punter will be and he will probably get a century to.
July 27th 2012 @ 4:46am
Richard said | July 27th 2012 @ 4:46am | Report comment
I would still rather have Ponting in my side than the list of ordinary wannabe’s that would like his spot. No one is standing up to knock him off.
July 28th 2012 @ 9:15am
Disco said | July 28th 2012 @ 9:15am | Report comment
Even if these wannabes do better against quality bowling than he does?
July 28th 2012 @ 11:55am
Richard said | July 28th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
But do they? Ponting still produces crucial innings under pressure. The last time they faced genuine quality bowling was in South Africa in the second test. He produced a briiliant 2nd innings dig under immense pressure and steadied the ship. He will have to perform out of his skin this summer though to make it to next ashes.
July 28th 2012 @ 12:04pm
Disco said | July 28th 2012 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Well, for instance, it was Khawaja who top scored in that second innings in Johannesburg and he actually averaged higher than Ponting did during the time he was in the Test side, even despite being run out in Brisbane by, um, Ponting.
July 28th 2012 @ 8:17pm
Richard said | July 28th 2012 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
Is that the best you have got!? Ponting wasn’t keeping Khawaja out of the side, they were in the same team, so what is your point. What about Watson’s run out of Ponting in WI, it happens, Ponting is not a serial offender like Watson re run outs. Khawaja should have been given the chance against India, he hadn’t set the world alight but the partnership with Ponting in SA should have been enough( something fishy in the selector stakes there). He could have learnt a lot from Punter if they had kept that continuity going. Regarding your stats, Khawaja top scored by 3 runs over Ponting,. What this deosn’t tell you is Khawaja was out in the last over of day 4, exposing his captain to the last ball of the day. Clarke went early on day 5 and Ponting batted on for a further 14 overs with Hussey. In the context of the match and the series Pontings contribution was greater.
July 28th 2012 @ 11:12pm
Richard said | July 28th 2012 @ 11:12pm | Report comment
Any other wannabe’s you would like to put up against Ponting !?
July 30th 2012 @ 12:06pm
Disco said | July 30th 2012 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Why, do you think it takes more than one batsman to replace a mid-30s Ponting?
July 30th 2012 @ 12:09pm
Disco said | July 30th 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
You asked if any ‘wannabes’ could do better against quality bowling than your man. One might mount an argument that batting higher in the order is more difficult, so not sure how your man comes out on top in the Johannesburg wash up.
Basically, I think Ponting’s decline should have seen him dropped from the side, if not after the Ashes humiliation then after his embarrassing dismissals to a very average New Zealand side on his home ground.
But I’m glad to see you think Khawaja was dropped too soon.
July 30th 2012 @ 8:05pm
Richard said | July 30th 2012 @ 8:05pm | Report comment
Your argument wouldn’t fly becasue in J’burg 2nd innings the openers failed, so Khawaja and Ponting started on basically the same footing. This was the most important partnership of recent times, IMO. Ponting started again on day 5 and helped take the sting out of a fired up SA attack on home soil. Clearly Ponting shouldn’t have retired in Hobart after his success against India.
Another “wannabe” Marsh was a compete dud against their pop gun attack. Its clear they have needed his experience and steel even if he is fading.
July 30th 2012 @ 8:56pm
Disco said | July 30th 2012 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
I agree with you about the importance of that stand.
Prior to the India series myself and other Roarers suggested that Ponting succeeding against that pop gun attack would ultimately be problematic because then he’d be a lock in for the Caribbean and beyond. I agreed. We saw him struggle in the West Indies (apart from in the nets where he excels so we’re constantly told) and next up will be South Africa which certainly doesn’t have a pop fun attack. He’ll have to improve substantially not to be made to look like someone who should’ve retired sooner.
Marsh isn’t Test standard, granted, but I’m not convinced Ponting’s irreplaceable.
July 30th 2012 @ 11:16pm
Richard said | July 30th 2012 @ 11:16pm | Report comment
Pontings experience is irreplaceable, at the moment. He didn’t come late and hide down the order like Clarke and Hussey. He has always been at the pointy end and winning. Ok in England not so good, but in his first ashes as captain in U.K, the ultimate failure came in Hussey running him out 2nd inn when he looked so strong and Warne dropping Peterson(unforgiveable!). Even recently in the India series(admittedly soft) they were essentially a batsman down with Marsh in the side and Ponting had to resume his customary No 3 role, which he did with aplomb.
I find it strange that you would think that someone like Ponting would “retire”. I wouldn’t if I was in his shoes and neither would you. He knows exactly what is going down re cricket in Australia and he is doing exactly what is in its best interest, he is not a selfish guy. Unfortunately the dropping of Khwaja shows the selectors are in a different world.
I wish you Roarers would focus on that rather than taking down one of our true greats..
July 31st 2012 @ 9:43am
Disco said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
I’m well aware that a lot of people choose to ignore Ponting’s much-diminished batting returns, uninspired, sometimes baffling captaincy and petulance, as if they played no part in Australia slipping down the Test rankings.
July 31st 2012 @ 10:28am
MrKistic said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Really Richard? You don’t think Ponting’s ultimate failure in the 2005 Ashes was sending England in to bat in the 2nd test after McGrath rolled his ankle? You think it was him being run out? Poor blameless Ponting hey?
July 30th 2012 @ 10:09pm
pope paul v11 said | July 30th 2012 @ 10:09pm | Report comment
Loving your jousting Richard and Disco. Sorry Richard but I think Ponting should have packed it in on a high after the Indians.
Incidentially U T Khawaja picked up 56* & 66 against Cowan’s Cavaliers. First solid FC runs for ages, hoperully many more to come.
July 30th 2012 @ 11:42pm
Richard said | July 30th 2012 @ 11:42pm | Report comment
What high!!? – The guy who is supposed to be replacing me is a complete dud! (that is what Ponting would be thinking)
I actually think that Ponting would like to retire but the selectors are not enabling him to, they need him for the time being…
July 31st 2012 @ 9:38am
Disco said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Well, if Ponting really thinks that then I’m sure he must be a fantastic mentor to younger teammates.
August 1st 2012 @ 7:57pm
Richard said | August 1st 2012 @ 7:57pm | Report comment
Mrkistic- Purely hypothetical, we dion’t know what would have happened if we batted first. We lost the ashes mainly because Mcgrath rolled his ankle also Shane(drooped the ashes)Warne dropped Petersen in the clincher. Pontings runout was in 2009 ashes 2nd innings when he looked like he would have batted for a couple days.
Over and above my tongue in cheek comments. Regardless of the result, Ponting was the captain of our side in the most entertaining cricket series I have seen in my life time and suspect ever likely to see, I applaud him for that.
August 1st 2012 @ 10:20pm
Richard said | August 1st 2012 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Being too literal there Disco. I don’t rate Ponting as a great captain but he was very good. But petulant!?. He isn’t Mother Theresa, he has been a player and captain in over 100 test victories for Australia. He is the holder of a long tradition of Australian competitiveness including Waugh(captain petulance!). The strange irony is, that Ponting presided over our most entertaining series ever in England, courtesy of a Mcgrath rolled ankle.
Pontings(natural) decline isn’t the main reason for our decline in the rankings. Its our bowlers!. No Mcgrath no Warne, simple. Pontings captaincy had difficulty adjusting to inconsistent bowlers unable to hold to a plan, any captain would have been in the same boat. He held the ship together as best he could and handed it over to Clarke(possibly a better captain with an attacking instinct, time will tell). Clarke has been blessed with a revamped and more disciplined bowling line up which makes him look ok/good for the time being.
Anyway I diverge off topic. Apart from Khawaja, who I demonstrated was inferior when it counted against quali8ty bowling , you have not put up any other names!
Rather than taking down Ponting that seems to be your want. I would suggest this summer is his fitting final curtain, against a quality opposition on home soil. Any true Aussie cricket supporter would agree. Regardless of his success or failure I will be cheering him to the last ball. Over and Out!
July 31st 2012 @ 10:35am
pope paul v11 said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
ok
July 31st 2012 @ 12:40pm
pope paul v11 said | July 31st 2012 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
ok Richard or should I say Richard T Ponting!!!! Who cares who the new guard will be? Chappell, Marsh and Lillee all retired simultaneously. it was a fun decade thereafter, you know, can’t win ‘em all and all that. The selectors are afraid of offending Ricky.
August 1st 2012 @ 7:39pm
Richard said | August 1st 2012 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
Why would they be afraid of offending him?