Ricky Ponting failed to fire in the first Test, but results will not determine when the former Australian captain retires.
Cricket Australia has become a politically driven institution built on money, success and results. But I’m sure they will make an exception for one of their greatest legends.
Ponting is one of Australia’s most decorated Test cricketers, with an average of 52.75 and 41 centuries to his name over an 18-year career.
The champion batsmen took over the reins as captain in 2004 after Steve Waugh’s retirement. In Ponting’s seven-year tenure as skipper, he led Australia in 44 Tests with a success rate of 65 percent.
But just before Ponting blew out 36 candles on his birthday cake, his side relinquished the Ashes on home soil.
The loss of cricket’s holy grail in 2010-11 foreshadowed a tumultuous 18 months for Ponting, conceding the captaincy and struggling to string together consistent batting performances.
Opposition teams and coaches have identified deficiencies in Ricky Ponting’s techniques, which they have exploited.
Ponting tends to fall over his body early in his innings, which leaves him open to LBW dismissals. And he tends to push at balls outside off-stump early in his innings, which leads to edges behind the wicket, as was the case in the first Test.
Statistically, Ponting has been very patchy this calendar year. After a career-defining 200 against a lacklustre Indian attack in January, Ponting posted only one score above 50 in his six innings against the Windies in April.
The duck against South Africa last week makes it three ducks in his last four innings against the Proteas.
Ponting is in the twilight of his career and every failed score poses more questions on when he will retire.
Cricket Australia is reluctant to sack Ponting given his role in consolidating Australia as a cricketing powerhouse during the 2000s.
In 2006, Ponting was awarded the Allan Border Medal, ICC Test Player of the year, ICC player of the year and Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
The countless captain’s knocks and rescue missions Ponting has undertaken has helped build the Australian success synonymous with his career.
It is not just with the bat in hand; Ponting mentored players like his successor Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle, who will lead Australia in the future.
The Australian cricket team is in transition and age is often the excuse fans and commentators use to warrant Ponting’s departure.
But international legends Sachin Tendulkar (39) and Jacques Kallis (37) are still churning out runs, with Kallis recording 147 runs in the first Test.
Age should not be a factor. Nor should form. Techniques and temperaments can be tweaked with time, so results should not be the sole measurement.
All forms of Australian cricket should celebrate Ponting’s service during the modern era.
The team, officials and public should respect him enough to let him go out on his own terms.
When the time comes, Ponting will know; as a former Australian captain, making tough decisions wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary.
Aqeel Abbas
Guest
Ricky ponting is a great batsman and should play in the ashes tour even if he fails in the doth African tour as I believer he will come good. Whenever Australia are down pointing steps foreward he has proven over the years that he his tne reason people pay to see Australian cricket
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Ricky Ponting is a class player. One of the greatest to represent our Grand Country! However to say that form, results shouldn't dictate when he finishes is just absolutely deplorable! I hope Ricky comes out in the 2nd test and dominates. However if it was to be that Ricky was to fail in this series, I would think the Australia selectors would have to seriously consider whether he continues again Sri Lanka. One thing Australia cannot afford is to carry Ricky Ponting in the next Ashes Series if we want to retain it! If Ponting has pulled his weight in this series and against Sri Lanka than fine he earns his place for an Ashes tours. But to say results & form don't dictate when he finishes....your having a laugh!
Sandy
Guest
Spot on, James.
Nashwa A
Guest
Without doubt Ricky is still the best batsman in th world,so he still deserve more chance than anybody
Nishant M
Guest
Ponting is a class batsmen and will return to form in the second test. If he fails in all tests he will be shown exit door, which is unlikely to happen.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Errrr, if you want to celebrate the batsman he used to be, get someone to put up a statue, something in bronze perhaps. He should have walked after his disastrous captaincy was finished, that he didn't shows he has no designs on going gracefully.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Well said James
James
Guest
I will pick him until he says no more. Class is permanent. He is still class.
Will
Guest
I have been watching Ricky Ponting bat since the mid nighties - in that time it has always been common knowledge that Ponting falls over early in his innings and / or goes hard at the ball outside off early in his innings. This is hardly a new technical glitch. Got to laugh the arm chair critics sitting back in their seats proclaiming that they have 'identified' technical glitches in Ponting's technique - these 'glitches' have always been there. Go to youtube and see footage of Ponting sparring at balls and getting caught behind the wicket in 2001. Ponting, at the time of the first test, was the leading run scorer in the shield. Give Punter the test series against South Africa and then review where the team and him personally are.
Richard
Guest
He will have to play at least one innings of note this summer in a winning side to go to the ashes. If he does poorly against the Proteas and we lose the series then it will be all over for Rick, I think.
Lolly
Guest
If someone thinks Punter should retire or be dropped by the selectors, why does that make them a basher? It may be due to them not wanting to watch him when he appears to have declined so much as a player. I think he'll be going to the Ashes.
Nev
Guest
Well this will bring the Ponting bashers out in pretty quick time... I reckon he stays until there is a demonstrably better candidate churning out runs in the shield (like the man himself did at the start of the season). In this respect at least, he has runs on the board. Hughes and Khawaja have a bit to prove. Seems like there is daylight after them. Over to Red Kev to tell us punter should have been dropped years ago... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].