Ponting's being self-indulgent, says Lawson

Lawson was a firm critic of Brett Lee as a Test bowler if I recall but yes, all pundits tend to have a state bias.

Lawson is right... the Indian bowling attack this season was inept and offered anyone willing to grind it out the chance to score truckloads of runs, and as such gifted Ponting a big double ton and a perfect send off opportunity to recognise his stellar contribution. Punter will struggle on less favourable batting pitches and better quality bowling. His technique is now more ad-hoc than ever, with poor footwork, shot selection and falling across off leaving him prone to LBW...I predict he will struggle in the next tour and an opportunity to groom a new Test batsman will have been wasted...

Self-indulgent or not, Ponting has no obligation to retire. If he wants to play on, then that is his right. However the selectors need to tell him it's time to retire, and should take the decision out of his hands.

With ya Lawso. The thing is he was allowed many low scores over a long period. His best knock was actually the 62 in company with Khawaja to set up an unlikely victory against SA. They again looked solid too at Brissie but then the highly commendable Kiwi victory suddenly put Khawaja out the door. No offence but the indian attack was not the scariest ( Yadav apart ) and their ancient big 4 struggled against hungry fast bowling. Perhaps he and huss cost a couple of young guns valuable experience and confidence for the struggle ahead against SA and England. Anyway be interesting to see what the West Indies throw up. Rampaul, Edwards and Roach have the ability to hurry a top six. Can they make it interesting?

Kev, my attitude towards Ponting playing on has softened in recent times and I tend to agree with your point about it being the selectors job to select based on performance. They have shown in the case of Ponting's recent ODI form that they can make the call when needed, so I would expect/hope they would do the same if/when Ponting's Test performances fall short of adequate. Ponting has only known one profession, that of a cricketer. I can only imagine that any one of us would take the same approach to holding on to our job for as long as we can - still, I do hope that Ponting does make the right call himself when the time comes.

I wonder if Lawson would be saying this if Ponting were from N.S.W? I am a blue also but whenever I hear Lawson speak he always seems to be pushing N.S.W's barrow. No bad thing in and of itself but sometimes he gets a bit carried away and always seems to have an agenda.

People die?? Geoff Lawson couldn't brake an egg with a hammer! He's a nobody! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

Lawson was the Chuck Norris of his day. When Geoff talks, people listen or they die!

Like! Talk about self-indulgence, we have to put up with it from Lawson all summer

The level of self-indulgence in earning a meek living from commentating is hardly equal to the impact, consequence and sporting interest to the self-indulgence of a sad and ever-declining cricketer who refuses to admit that his time in the national team is completely and utterly up. But hey, don’t take my word for it – take the selectors...they just dropped old grump from ODI. Only a matter of time before the same happens with his Test spot.

that's entirely my point, Disco...

And what do you expect Ponting will do when he finally stops playing?

Who actually cares what Geoff Lawson thinks anyway? -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

OOPs I meant more!

seriously what, Wooblies?

Seriously?

Less

You stole my line. I like how he goes on about how their was a lot of "I" in Ponting's press conference whilst at the same time saying "I heard this" "I thought this" "I'm really annoyed" etc

I did think that Ponting might have retired for family reasons or if he didn’t feel the drive anymore (as he had accomplished everything), but the guy says that is not the case and I am not going to call him a liar. I do think that Ponting should have been dropped (twice over). But the fault lies with the selectors, not with Ponting. He is a professional cricketer and for the first time there is also a full-time professional Chairman of Selectors. If he is picked to play he will play. What is wrong with that? There are a whole heap of side issues regarding sports stars hanging on too long or going out on top; about Ashes redemption; about chasing down Steve Waugh’s record for Australian Caps and Rahul Dravid’s spot for second on the list of test runs; about the perceived lack of first-class batsmen knocking on the door for selection … but those are all nothing but noise and nonsense. The core issue is that Ponting expects to be told if he is good enough to play or not by the national selection panel. It is not just professional courtesy, it’s the job description of both parties.

Is it any more or less self indulgent to keep earning a living by playing the game, than to keep earning a living off the game well beyond your playing days??