Australian captain Ricky Ponting with his fractured left little finger, after winning the Third Ashes Test Match in Perth. Sunday, 19th December, 2010. ( AP Photo/Steve Wake )
Veteran Channel 9 commentator Bill Lawry will be watching the Ricky Ponting saga unfold tonight, with a great deal of interest. Ponting’s under the pump after a disastrous summer, with growing calls to end his captaincy reign.
Nobody knows that better than William Morris Lawry, the unwanted record-holder of being the only Australian captain sacked during a series.
In one of the more disgraceful moments in Australian cricket history, right up there with the infamous 1981 underarm delivery, Lawry was dropped for the seventh Ashes Test in 1971.
And nobody told him.
Left in the dark by the Australian Cricket Board, and the selectors, Lawry flew from Adelaide to his home-town Melbourne, to be greeted at Tullamarine by a media maul and to find out his fate for the first time.
Ian Chappell was installed as skipper for the SCG, making the famous quote: “The bastards won’t get me they way they got Bill”.
And they didn’t, not by a long shot.
Ponting can’t say the same, with tonight’s World Cup clash against India at Ahmedabad career-defining for the 36-year-old.
It’s interesting to compare how Lawry was batting at the time to Ponting.
Lawry had scored 340 runs at 40.50, with three half-centuries in the 1970-71 Ashes campaign when he was shown the door – not shabby against a career average of 47.15 over 67 Tests.
Many batsmen have been dropped for far less.
But Ponting averaged 16.14, including an unbeaten 51, in the Ashes series – career average of 53.51 in 152 Tests – and is averaging 20.40 in this World Cup, against a ODI career average of 42.39 over 358 matches.
Ponting’s under the pump alright for his prime role in the side – not scoring runs. But also for his captaincy and attitude.
Losing three Ashes series in four doesn’t do the CV any good. Drawing 1-1 with Pakistan and losing 2-0 to India only magnifies the Test problem.
During this World Cup, Ponting damaged a television set after being run out against Zimbabwe, spat the dummy when Steve Smith collided with him taking a catch against Canada, and played with a fractured pinky on his left hand.
All have played a role in why Ponting’s future is rocky.
Having badly damaged his finger at the WACA in the third Ashes Test, Ponting shouldn’t have played in the fourth, a selfish decision that should have been denied by either Cricket Australia or the selectors.
Eventually Ponting did the right thing and pulled out of the fifth Ashes Test, had finger surgery, gave the entire seven-game ODI series against England a miss, but declared himself fit for the World Cup.
But Ponting wasn’t fit, and the World Cup has proved the point. It’s the pinky that has impacted on the team, as much as the run-drought.
Ponting strongly argues his finger is okay, but if that’s the case, why isn’t he fielding in the cordon where his catching is such a major asset to the side?
So, tonight will be Ponting’s moment of truth. Another failure and he’s gone.
Even a big score will only delay the inevitable. Not a fitting ending to the career of the second most prolific batsman in international cricket history.
Despite his obvious shortcomings, Ricky Ponting remains defiant.
“I’ll know when the time is right for me to step aside as captain, or step aside as a player. Right now, I don’t think the time is right”.
Bill Lawry will be watching. He wasn’t ready to step aside as captain, or player, either.
Bayman
Guest
....and, thankfully, he did not!
Bayman
Guest
Hopefully, a nice way for Ponting to finish. Don't miss the chance, Rick!
fisher price
Guest
Precisely. Any century is a praiseworthy effort, but calm down. That's one ODI ton in 13 months.
Lolly
Guest
Oh please. Do you have any idea of his stats in the past 2 years? That was a very fine innings from him in the circumstances but give it a break.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
A hundred for Ponting, but he didnt get the support with bat or ball - after 30 overs, Australia were 2-138, but got only 260. As far as the bowling goes, sixteen wides and two no balls gave India three extra overs worth of balls to hit, and overs 40 and 41 by Lee and Taiot were so bad Ponting brought Krezja back into the attack ! Ricky Ponting - a great batsman, trying to carry a weak team.
KickIt2Duck
Roar Rookie
Ponting, 100 off 113 balls, (and 11 for Aust off the 47th over). Fantastic effort by Ponting. Why waste this sort of innings on Canada or Kenya!!!!
KickIt2Duck
Roar Rookie
ah, beat me to it, come on Punter, 13 to go now.........ooh, nice shot by David Hussey.
Al
Guest
My word, there are some muppets on this blog. Ponting is on 84no. Where are you knockers now? So Ponting is an aggro mutt who you wouldn't have a beer with. So what? He's one of Australians finest ever athletes, and probably our second best batsmen ever. He deserves the respect of you armchair experts. Not your cheap jibes from your couch while you reach for another Twistie.
fisher price
Guest
Sorry, I was suggesting that unless the Test was played at Perth I wouldn't pick Johnson. It's very slim pickings for seamers admittedly, and because so few have been blooded and most keep getting injured, we don't really know who might make at Test level but regardless, Johnson's axing is overdue as he failed dismally on too many occasions. I've Bollinger always ahead of him. Then I guess I'd be looking at Pattinson or Feldman to get a go, what with Cutting, Hazelwood and Starc crocked. Other than Copeland, I don't really see any positives at the moment. But three seamers will have to play in the Sri Lankan Tests, as it'd be folly two play two frontline spinners. I'd like to see McDonald or even Butterworth get a look in, but that ain't going to happen.
jamesb
Guest
What do you mean by a hypothetical perth test? Fisher Price, who would you replace Johnson with?
fisher price
Guest
Is this side for a hypothetical Perth Test? Otherwise, I'd not have Punter's pet Johnson anywhere it.
fisher price
Guest
Yes, I agree. Even though three catches went down on 4th day eve, NSW really could have used that time to make Tasmania's target tougher to reach, which have caused them to take more risks. That said, Tasmania only needed to draw, and 90 overs is not much time to bowl a side out with that under-strength attack.
jamesb
Guest
With Katich in the recent shield final, did he declare at the right time? N.S.W lead by 202 runs with 5 wickets in hand and 6 or 7 overs to be bowled on the 4th day IMO Katich should had declared at stumps on day 4 with N.S.W possible lead of 235 or 240 Having said that it was aggressive captaincy, but may have put a bit more pressure on his bowlers
jamesb
Guest
I wouldn't blame solely on Ponting with Australias slide in the cricket rankings. He is one factor, the other is the talent of the team, another factor is preparation of the team. Cricket Australia shouldn't be left unscathed either. Remember the wasted one day series against Sri Lanka in early November while at the same time, Englnad were preparing for the Ashes with a first class game against W.A. Also someone mentioned it earlier, getting rid of Ponting is not going to solve everything. In his absence, Australia got smashed for an innings defeat in that final test at the S.C.G David Lord mentions that Lawry was replaced by Ian Chappell. Can Australia replace Ponting with an Ian Chappell type player. Does the Australian cricket these days have a similar player to Ian Chappell. I think not. Regardless what happens tonight, I hope Ponting plays one more year of Australian cricket, becasue I don't think we have the depth ATM If Australia were to play a test match tomorrow, here is my side with the changes S.Watson S.Katich U.Khawaja M.Clarke M.Hussey R.Ponting B.Haddin S.O'Keefe M.Johnson P.Siddle T.Copeland N.Hauritz D.Bollinger C.Lynn Captaincy would be out of Katich or Clarke. I believe if they pick this team along with the fringe players, it has the makings of the rise of Australian cricket.
fisher price
Guest
Well, I'm not sure that Ponting thinks... What are these good leadership characteristics you allude to? It might suit your purposes to ignore his Test record in India too.
fisher price
Guest
Vote 1. Simon Katich (WA).
Aidan
Roar Pro
Sorry David but I can't agree with you on this one. I honestly do not believe that Ponting thinks he is untouchable. While his leadership at times has been questionable I think he has many characteristics of a good leader. I also believe that his decisions have been made in consultation with CA. I have it on good authority, andI think Gilchrist has admitted himself, that he wanted to retire at the same time as Warne, McGrath and Langer but was persuaded to stay on by CA. Ignoring pontings ashes loses, his record as captain is pretty decent- the team is currently ranked number one in ODIs and Ponting has captained the team to two world cups in a row including 34 straight victories. Thats not bad, he's no taylor or waugh but crickey those records will probably never be matched. I would suggest if we looked at Ponting's win/loss record for his career and compared it with the last 5 years there wouldn't be a huge discrepancy. In any event I hope he delivers tonight
fisher price
Guest
Excellent post. But who needs a legacy when you're the Highlander? "I am Richard Ponting of the Clan Ponting. I was born in 1974 in the village of Launceston in the Tamar Valley. And I am immortal!"
fisher price
Guest
Ponting does make a contribution. In fact, he contributes too much - to the team's detriment.
fisher price
Guest
What's it like living in the past? Your stand-up routine must go down a treat there. I can see it now. "And then Ricky Ponting created the Sun..."