Andrew Strauss quits all forms of cricket

I'm not alone in thinking Ponting's Test returns these past couple of years haven't warranted his continued selection. The selectors/'better people' are indeed too scared to drop him, and he's too stubborn to retire, even foregoing an excellent opportunity to go out on the back of a good series last summer.

Oh my goodness, what an argument! I am a fan of Ponting and have repect for the great players like him, the Waughs, McGrath, Warnie, Mark Taylor and Border who led Australia out of the cricketing doldrums to become a world cricket power - Ponting had a lot to do with our dominance over the glory years - both as a batsman and a captain. I'm not going to get into the argument of when he should retire - although I did agree with him being dropped from the one day side as he just was not performing and making silly shot-making decisons. Not that any of the others are doing much better in the one-dayers (except for the recent whitewash of Pakistan) but there is a need to blood young players to see who is up to the challenge. It's not a really good time for Australian cricket at present as there doesn't seem to be many champion players in the wings to take over when the older superstars retire as there have been in previous times. There are some good quality players like Cummins, Pattinson, etc., but they don;t look like champions of the ilk of McGrath and Warnie. Having said that though, I personally don't think we will see another world-beating combination of bowlers like Warnie and MCGrath in our lifetime - once in a generation superstars. When they had a team down they never took their foot off the accelerator and went for the jugular (an instinct that seems to be lacking in the team since their departure). I am also concerned that Australia looks a certainty to lose another Ashes series on home soil!

I think Ponting would have happily moved over if someone had the gumption and skills to challenge him.. He is not silly, he knows what is required at No 3. Khawaja was thrown to the wolves at no 3, perhaps he will come back like Ponting did. As it stands, Clarke has virtually been forced into the position, he has been the best bat in the side for a number of years IMO but he hasn't had the mental fortitude to go with it (hence Ponting hanging on). Maybe this season will see the maturity of Clarke completed. He has to stand up and let go of Ponting, just as much as Ponting needs to let go

Someone else (Khawaja, probably) could've been bedded in at number 3 from the start of the last Ashes had the then-skipper (in, as you concede, "decline") listened to the chairman of selectors' advice and moved down the order. But Punter knew best; the result - one half century in four Tests. Clarke did poorly at number 4, so until now has he really been in a position to move up to number 3?

Had Strauss had stuck around and continued to struggle, with selectors too scared to axe him (ring any bells?), that would've been putting himself ahead of the team. Of course you'd want him to stay on and therefore the English team to be weaker, but I think Strauss recognised his time was up. Just as most England supporters would love your man Punter to tour there next year.

I didn't say that he worked hard at his game because he was Australian! Unfortunately the other greats in the Australian side retired on top, which is great for them! Ponting has been left to carry the can. Clarke hung him out to dry by not moving himself up to no 3 . Then Clarke and selectors let Khawaja hang himself at no 3. What a disgrace. The problem in Australian cricket is that no one has had the balls to move up the order with Pontings decline. I think you need to change your focus Disco

Ultimately, Ponting's there to score runs and he hasn't done that consistently for some time now. Whatever one subjectively argues he brings to the side, the fact that he's struggled against high-class bowling for three years has weakened Australia's batting. Not sure that the 'long tradition' is anything more than a nationalistic myth. Ponting works hard at his game, for sure, but that's not because he's an Australian.

Well obviously if you have better players you will look like a better captain. I don't think a captain as flawed as you think he his could have the record that he had. Of course he isn't perfect far from it and I don't think the sun shines out of his proverbial. If you choose to highlight the negative, anyone can look bad, especially someone who has been around as long as Ponting. What Ponting brings is the intangables at the moment which you won't find in the stats. His depth of experience, his work/team ethic and holder of a long tradition in Australian cricket. I hope he performs this summer.

Feel free to throw mud from the sidelines if it makes you feel better. Probably better not to takes comments made on here too seriously.

Jingoism! Pot kettle black. I think you have use the terms - "Ponting sycophants" for his supporters and "Pontings rabble" for the ashes losing teams. In any case Coward is a bit strong but IMO he still took the soft option. It would have been great to see him in the next Ashes. I think he his protecting his reputation its an ego thing

Well obviously he has declined as a batsman. We have already covered this ground in another thread. The point is the selectors have tried to groom youth but there have been no stand out candidates. It is better to have Pontings experience in the team, especially one in transition and with no-one belting down the doors. You don't through away his experience lightly. That is if you value his experience which I doubt you do. Better people than you and I have looked at this issue very closely and they have decided to keep him in the team, for now. I think its ridiculous to suggest the selectors are frightened of dropping him just because you think he should be dropped.

Richard, hate coming on here just to level the 'stupid' charge but so many of your post above qualify. The fact that in this one you proudly claim to be be bringing balance by being completely unbalanced, only demonstrates further dullness.There is a political career just crying out for your talents.

Of course you think that. You think the sun shines out of Ponting's proverbial. Ponting batted into day 5; his innings also commenced later, no? But do I also detect the implication that subsequent Test series - including your man's Indian summer - were less than consequential?

Facts are facts.

To call him a coward is ridiculous and smacks of jingoism. If Strauss had lost 4-0 last time he visited Australia, I suspect he might have been sacked and dropped. As it was he led his side to three innings defeats over Ponting's rabble. Strauss is now 35 years old. Aside from the fact that he recognised he was cutting it as a Test batsman anymore (and many English journalists were calling for him to retire or be replaced), could it not be that he sees other things he can do with his life? It's called self-awareness, humility and putting the team's interests first.

No, and he was rightly dropped from the captaincy.

No of course not, only Strauss is the coward. Laxman and Dravid came here and lost 4-0 and then retired. They are men of integrity and honor. They realized the greatest challenge in their cricket life was to play Australia in Australia. Like it is says at Wimbledon, you need to be able to treat winning and losing equally. Strauss had no reason to retire, unless there is more to this than meets then eye.

Get serious!

So we turn full circle. You can't compare Khwaja's innings to Pontings in SA. He out scored him by 3 runs and got out exposing his captain in the last over of the day. Ponting played on into day 5 taking the sting out of thier fresh attack. IMO it was, in the main, Pontings innings that saved Australia from a series defeat in SA. The last series of any real concequence.

Katich was underrated.