Ricky Ponting

[Twodogs]

I dont want to 'go' the Australian captain but I'm going to.




I havent seen a bloike captain a side so badly since the dim, dark days of Kim Hughes. Yesterday Ponting just stood in the slips and let the game get taken away from him, first by Kallis and then by De Villiers. Never looked like setting the agenda, never looked like a man at ease with himself or in control of his team. In short he just stood there and looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.


My main criticisms;

Field setting;

The 'keeper/slips were too deep. The first time the ball fell short it was up to the captain to tell the wicketkeeper that it's time to take a step forward. If needs be he then needs to give the cordon some cover with a third man but the slips and the 'keeper need to be in a position to catch the ball. Not long after the first ball dropped short from Kallis, De Villiers got a life (and four runs) because the keeper was still too far back.

Too many fieldsmen were in positions where the ball just wasnt going. Krezja and Katich didnt need to be 4 metres from each other at square leg and backward square leg. De Villiers didnt need two men in the deep at long on and long off-he just doesnt drive the ball.

Bowling;

Why did Clarke bowl before Krejza yesterday? Why didnt Symonds bowl some medium pace wobblers before lunch? Why is a clearly unfit Brett Lee expected to carry the attack?


Someone needs to take control of this team and lead them to where he wants them to go. Ricky isnt the man for the job.

[Mantis]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Why can't he make a run?

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Twodogs, who are you suggesting that should take over the captaining on the team?
Surely not Michael Clarke?

Not only is our bowling and batting depth questionable I'd say the same about genuine captaincy candidates.

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Twodogs, who are you suggesting that should take over the captaining on the team?
Surely not Michael Clarke?

Not only is our bowling and batting depth questionable I'd say the same about genuine captaincy candidates.

I hate to go back and redo the past, everyone is a genius with hindsight, but Shane Warne should have been captain after Steve Waugh. Pure and simple.



To answer the question you actually asked me. I dont know. Maybe Ponting just needs a kick up the arse?

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Why can't he make a run?

Frame of mind. He's not thinking about how well he can go, he's thinking about how badly everything can go wrong.

[westdog54]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Re the OP:

For me his body language at times was telling. He really let his frustration get to him at times, which is fatal when your side is looking shaky defending a run chase.

Sadly, as GVG suggested, there just isn't a suitable replacement at the moment. Clarke isn't ready, and anyone else with captaincy credentials in just as bad form as Ponting.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

On SEN someone suggested that Haddin be given the job. The worst part of that was that I couldn't come up with a better candidate.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Twodogs, who are you suggesting that should take over the captaining on the team?
Surely not Michael Clarke?

Not only is our bowling and batting depth questionable I'd say the same about genuine captaincy candidates.

I think you are judging Clarke on his playing ability rather than what he might show as Captain.

Historically, Australia has picked their best side and then chosen their Captain. The Poms often picked their Captain and then chose the side around him.

Whilst I prefer the aussie way, it doesn't follow that the best player should be captain and Benaud was a good example of that after getting the nod above Harvey who most considered would be the next captain.

Back to Carke, he infuriates me the way he sometimes treats his wicket with scant respect but what little we have seen of him in the role (albeit in hit and giggle 20/20) he has impressed.

Far more so than footy, the role of the captain in cricket is paramount. We might well have benefitted from Taylor being there yesterday even though he hasn't played the game for yonks and is entirely unfit.

After all a duck is duck so we wouldn't have lost anything there.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I think you are judging Clarke on his playing ability rather than what he might show as Captain.


Back to Carke, he infuriates me the way he sometimes treats his wicket with scant respect but what little we have seen of him in the role (albeit in hit and giggle 20/20) he has impressed.

Far more so than footy, the role of the captain in cricket is paramount. We might well have benefitted from Taylor being there yesterday even though he hasn't played the game for yonks and is entirely unfit.

After all a duck is duck so we wouldn't have lost anything there.

I don't mind him as a batsman but like you, I'd prefer to see him place a higher value on his wicket but I just don't see him as a leader of the team at all. We need a traditionalist not a metro sexual to lead this team and that's why I would still prefer Ponting. Ponting needs to be more imaginative and stamp his authority on the team more but I have is still the best candidate. FWIW, I wouldn't have Clarke as the deputy either and feel it would be better to give that job to Hussey.

[westdog54]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Far more so than footy, the role of the captain in cricket is paramount. We might well have benefitted from Taylor being there yesterday even though he hasn't played the game for yonks and is entirely unfit.

We needed Richie Benaud out there yesterday.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I don't mind him as a batsman but like you, I'd prefer to see him place a higher value on his wicket but I just don't see him as a leader of the team at all. We need a traditionalist not a metro sexual to lead this team and that's why I would still prefer Ponting. Ponting needs to be more imaginative and stamp his authority on the team more but I have is still the best candidate. FWIW, I wouldn't have Clarke as the deputy either and feel it would be better to give that job to Hussey.

We have to move with the Y generation GVGjr - metrosexuals and all.

The X - generation like the baby boomers are dinosaurs

[Ozza]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Whilst I think Ponting had an ordinary day with field positions yesterday - I think the reaction on this thread and in the papers is a little over the top. Don't get me wrong - there are very valid points all over this thread - and I agree with some of it - but don't forget that Ponting has lost
- McGrath and Warne from his bowling arsenal - 2 of the best ever.
- Langer and Gilly from an experience, batting and leadership perspective.
- And has Stuey Clarke out, Hayden out of form, he isn't scoring as heavily as usual himself - Hussey is out of form for the first time in his career and Symonds has been a difficult scenario.

Siddle and Krejza are probably not there yet - so, I think that really - its an issue of our current depth. Australian cricket isn't as strong as it was this time two years ago - and Ponting is still young enough to turn it around and get them going in the right direction.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I'm an intermittent watcher but:

The side just seemed to pretty meekly surrender

Ponting desperately needs to be leading by example with the bat and making runs given Hayden is struggling, Haddin a rookie, Hussey not in great touch and Clarke still hard to count on. Katich who I've never been a big fan of is seemingly our most batsmen at the minute

Is this a reasonable summation of our batting form?

I for one cant believe Nathan Hauritz is even in the calculations, boy to be a New South Welshman and a cricketer

[Bornadog]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Re the OP:

For me his body language at times was telling. He really let his frustration get to him at times, which is fatal when your side is looking shaky defending a run chase.

Sadly, as GVG suggested, there just isn't a suitable replacement at the moment. Clarke isn't ready, and anyone else with captaincy credentials in just as bad form as Ponting.

Ponting was very frustrated with his bowling attack and clearly Lee isnot fit and not at his best and the experiment with Krezja didn't work as he is very expensive. He was also very expensive in India even though he took wickets - somthing overlooked by all. He has now been dropped with Nathan Hauritz and paceman Ben Hilfenhaus comming in.

Ponting at this stage is still the man for the job, has only lost 7 tests in 52.

[azabob]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I don't mind him as a batsman but like you, I'd prefer to see him place a higher value on his wicket but I just don't see him as a leader of the team at all. We need a traditionalist not a metro sexual to lead this team and that's why I would still prefer Ponting. Ponting needs to be more imaginative and stamp his authority on the team more but I have is still the best candidate. FWIW, I wouldn't have Clarke as the deputy either and feel it would be better to give that job to Hussey.

Hussey needs to concentrate on getting some runs against quality bowlers. At least Clarke is in some resemblence of form.