Rebecca Wilson’s article in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph titled ‘Give Ricky the flick’, is without doubt one of the worst sporting articles I have read in recent times.
The problem I have with the article is not Wilson’s choice of topic, but the lack of evidence and limited research Wilson uses to support her sensationalist claims.
Let me start by saying that Ricky Ponting’s “public display of venom” in Australia’s match against Canada was ugly and unacceptable. It should also be acknowledged that this wasn’t his first indiscretion of the 2011 World Cup.
But sackable offences? Hardly.
That said, if it becomes clear in Australia’s remaining matches of this World Cup that the player group has lost confidence in Ponting’s leadership, then it might be time for him to relinquish the top job.
Wilson, on the other hand, would prefer to see Ponting immediately exit after the World Cup because “he has turned into a brat,” brought “shame to the Test captaincy,” and “allowed the office to go to his head.”
Instead of taking personal pot shots at Ponting, perhaps Wilson needs to focus on the real issue; Ponting’s sustained batting slump.
Ponting’s lean run with the bat has seen him average just 20.40 runs at the World Cup. This is on the back of a poor summer where Australia lost the Ashes on home turf with Ponting averaging a terrible 16.14 runs.
Ultimately, if Ponting was scoring runs then his recent indiscretions would have received cursory attention from the media at best.
Wilson states that under Ponting’s leadership there is now a culture in the Australian cricket team that is “neither winning nor healthy.” While there may be some evidence at Test level to support this, this is not the case in the one-day arena.
Australia’s loss to Pakistan was their first in 35 World Cup matches. Not only that, the Australian cricket team has won the last three World Cups in England, South Africa and the West Indies. Ponting was the captain for two of those campaigns. If that’s not a winning culture then what is?
Granted the team at this World Cup bears no resemblance to the previously successful World Cup teams, but surely Ponting’s record counts for something.
Instead Wilson focuses on invented statistics to support her argument, including how the current Australian cricket team “has about 80 per cent less talent than the teams which boasted line-ups with McGrath, Warne and Langer.” Really?
Ignoring the baseless figure, I fail to see how it’s Ponting’s fault that the current team doesn’t have as much talent as previous teams, especially two of the greatest cricketers of all-time. Applying this logic, Ponting must also be to blame for the individual form slumps of Clarke, White and Johnson?
As the captain of the Australian cricket team the buck stops with Ponting, but let’s focus on his record and the team’s performances; things that are within his control.
There is no doubt that Ponting is facing increasing pressure to continue as the Australian cricket captain. Ultimately the decision lies with the administrators of Cricket Australia and Ponting himself.
In contrast to Wilson’s view, Cricket Australia should not “yield to pressure from a media that is tired of seeing up close the rot that has set into Australian Cricket.” Frankly, Rebecca, the media has no role in the selection of the Australian cricket captain.
Despite Australia’s setback against Pakistan on Saturday night, they are still well placed in this World Cup. Perhaps this loss was the wake-up call the Australian cricket team needed?
You can never write off a champion, and there can be no doubt that Ricky Ponting is a champion.
So when Australia faces India in the quarter final, a big score more than anything is what’s required from Ponting.
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