Ricky Ponting’s decision to step down from the Test and One-Day International (ODI) captaincy of the Australian cricket team marks the end of an era in Australian sport.
Despite Ponting’s acceptance that he was no longer the man to lead the Australian cricket team, various sections of the media continue to call for Pontings retirement from the game.
Some have gone as far as suggesting that he will be a destabilising influence on the Australian cricket team whilst he remains in the background.
I can only think of one word for these suggestions, nonsense.
The media hype surrounding Ponting leading up to, during and after the World Cup culminating in his decision to step down as captain has been nothing short of disgraceful.
Ponting’s treatment has unequivocally demonstrated that Australia’s love affair of the tall poppy syndrome is alive and well. We love nothing more than to cut our sporting icons down to size.
The tall poppy syndrome is a societal phenomenon in which people of great talent and ability are criticised because their achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from other peers.
Well let’s consider Ponting’s stats:
Most test victories as a player: 99
Most test victories as captain: 48
Most consecutive test victories as captain: 16 (tied with Steve Waugh)
Most test runs for an Australian: 12,363
Most test centuries for an Australian: 39
Most victories as ODI captain: 164
Most ODI’s runs for an Australian: 13,288
Most ODI centuries for an Australian: 29
Most World Cup victories as a player: 3 (tied several)
Most World Cup victories as captain: 2 (tied with Clive Lloyd)
Most World Cup appearances as a player: 46
Most Wold Cup matches as captain: 29
Most World Cup victories as captain: 26
Not bad by any stretch of the imagination. A thorough review of spot statistics would also have Ponting leading many other individual categories.
So how then did Ponting go from world-beater one-day, to the scrap heap the next? And why has the overwhelming majority of Australia turned on him?
Australia’s response to Ponting’s captaincy and form is historical, we are the nation that believes in ‘a fair go’ that backs an underdog, unless that underdog happens to be one of the greatest sportsman this country has produced.
Many will point to the recent demise of the Australian cricket team under Ponting’s captaincy. His dogmatic approach, petulance and arrogance, but hasn’t he always been that way?
Who can forget Ponting’s insistence on taking an out of form Andrew Symonds to the 2003 Cricket World Cup when others were calling for the inclusion of Steve Waugh.
In Australia’s opening match Symonds scored a scintillating 143 not out when Australia were deep in trouble at 4 for 86.
Symonds went on to amass 326 runs in nine matches at the 2003 Cricket World Cup. He averaged 163.00, Australia went undefeated and Ponting was labelled a genius.
Ponting’s sustained form slump hasn’t helped his cause but the suggestion that the added pressures of captaincy have exacerbated his slump aren’t supported by statistics.
Comparing Ponting’s batting average as a player against his average as a captain, in tests, Ponting’s average dipped only slightly when he was captain, from 55.97 to 51.51.
More interestingly however was that Ponting’s average in ODIs was better when he was captain. As captain he averaged 43.30 and as a player he averages 41.37.
This is even off the back of a significant dip in his averages since the retirements of McGrath, Warne, Hayden and even Gilchrist.
So was the protracted criticism and pressure placed on Ponting to relinquish the captaincy of the Australian cricket team a little premature? There is no doubt.
Ponting’s record as a player and as a captain is exemplary; anyone who suggests otherwise is allowing their personal opinions of Ponting to cloud their judgement.
When Ponting announced he was stepping down from the captaincy of the Australian cricket team, we should have reflected on his overall performance and achievements during his seven years at the helm. Instead we focused on the recent lowlights.
According to golfer Greg Norman, Australia’s love affair with the tall poopy syndrome goes a long way to explaining this. When an Australian buys a sports car instead of saying ‘nice sports car’ we are more inclined to try and scratch it.
So if you think Ponting has been unfairly criticised, or you disagree that he will be a destabilising influence on the Australian cricket team; now is your chance to throw some support behind one of our greats of the game.
Monisha Dikshit
Roar Rookie
Well said mate. Australia must feel blessed to have got such an outstanding captain and a player in Ricky Ponting. Accept it or not, Ricky Ponting was one of the best things that could have happened to Cricket Australia. People have been so quick to draw negatives with the champion, do they really realise his contribution to the team?
Jake
Guest
I totally agree its so shameful how as soon as ponting and the team hit hard times we call for heads to roll, point the finger and blame this person or the next. when we should be backing our team and capt in the hard times as well are the hard. down right shame full. its hardly pontings fault that the teams gone down hill, we lost 5 of out best players.
Lily
Guest
Great article! I completely agree that Ricky has been treated unfairly. Like he himself mentioned, people will remember him for his 3 Ashes losses and not his 3 World Cup wins. It is only when he retires or is forced to retire, will people realize his true worth. Then Michael Clarke and the selectors will realize their mistake but will be too arrogant to accept it and Australia will lose its best batsman since Bradman.
Vim
Guest
Clarke will be finding that out for himself in the next year or so, if he doesn't suspect already.
Vim
Guest
There is nothing wrong with looking at his recent form - and by the way it's more like 2 years than 12 months - as an indicator. Punter has been a very fine batsman and we hope that he can pick up his act without the burden of captaincy. But he's turning 37 this year and I can't see how scoring runs is going to become any easier for him than it has been for the past few years. The real test of his reflexes and eyesight will be when the Saffers turn up with their genuine quick bowlers, not the slow bowlers he will encounter in the next 2 tours.
fisher price
Guest
What about the 2005 Ashes? Those didn't prove impossible to lose.
fisher price
Guest
No-one in the inner sanctum agrees that it's an inept team.
ToddH
Roar Rookie
Great batsman, but Ponting was a hopeless captain with behavior problems.
Axelv
Guest
It's not a case of tall poppy syndrome or supporting the underdog or any of that rubbish. Shane Warne, Gilchrist, Mcgrath, Langer, Hayden were all greats and they were celebrated and acknowledged. Ricky Ponting the player is one of the best we've ever had, Ricky Ponting the captain is one of the worst we've had. He has been so conservative and unimaginative and has done no favours in helping his team make break throughs and get game changing wickets. This has been left to the individual brilliance of our bowlers which with Warne and Mcgrath had no problems! It is impossible for any captain in the world to lose a game with those sorts of players in your attack. Australia could have had no captain and won those games! But in recent years when our bowlers have been more up and down, relying on their individual brilliance is not a strategy when they are having off days, you have to use your bowlers accordingly in short sharp spells, and bring them on for when situation suits them, and have an attacking field, giving your opponent free singles is a sure way to lose every test match. Sangakarra's performance as a captain in the World Cup final was abysmal, he reminded me exactly of Ponting, he didn't grab India by the throat when Tendulkar was out and India were 2/50, he put on some filler bowlers that kept doing the same things over and over, bowling rubbish and conceding boundaries for 8 overs straight, he didn't bring Murali on until it was too late and Kohli and Gambir were settled, and when Murali finally came on the batsmen were already use to spin bowling after cruising throw the pace. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!
Mick Leyden
Guest
Well said mate. The focus has been far too much on his performance over the last 12 months rather than the last 12 years. To be honest he has copped a pretty raw deal as captain, no one since Kim Hughes has captained such an inept team. Where he has let himself down is how he has carried himself since the wheels have started to fall off. I hope now the captaincy issue is put to bed we can see him get towards his best with the bat.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I disliked Ponting as captain but nobody can doubt that he is a great batsman. Anyone calling for his head at this time when we need talented batsmen is crazy. I agree with Ponting he has a few years left in him and without the captaincy to concern him I hope his numbers will improve. If he is finished as a batsman it will be obvious in a years time. At this time lets see what he can do and he may be our 'Tendulkar'. Which would be a great ending for a great batsman.