Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

That's what I would do if he we lose the Ashes. I'm not sure he would accept it though.

Tough. It shouldn't be his decision to make.

If you don't want to play, don't let the door ...

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Who captains then? Clarke's position is on as rocky as Ponting's and his back looks shot, Huss is an 18 month promotion at most (and I dont think hes particularly astute tactically), Watson hasnt captained a side in his life and Haddin is too hit and miss. Ponting is the only option and will be untill Clarke can prove both fitness and form for the long term.

Cameron White

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

I said after her lost the Ashes in 2005 that he should have been sacked so nothing....not even the 5-0 white wash has changed my opinion.

That said, I don't think that giving him the heave ho in the middle of a series is the answer. The fact is that he is surrounded by a group of very, very, very, very sub-par cricketers. Batsmen who have no backbone and bowlers who are incapable of bowling line and length to maintain pressure.

I don't know about this -- a good captain can squeeze out the maximum potential from their playing group. I don't think anyone can claim that our group is playing anywhere NEAR their potential -- a Mark Taylor leading this group may well be able to squeeze out a 1-0 or 2-1 series win against the Poms, who are -- remember -- no world beaters.

I keep saying this, but they are simply the no.4 team in the world -- their record has been very indifferent leading up to the Ashes, and solid but not spectacular players like Cook have been made to look invincible and Pietersen who hasn't scored a run in nearly 2 years smashes a double century against our attack. I don't think we are so much sub-par as underperforming -- and it's not like the eleven blokes out there are even the best eleven cricketers in the country.

Even if we have sub-par cricketers, the blame would lie squarely with Cricket Australia who has dropped the ball in encouraging the right players to come through the system -- why would any spinners bother to turn up when the Test captain has no idea how to use them and being picked for Australia would be career suicide (as it has been for 9 spinners in 2 years)?

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Cameron White

That's what I was going to say.

[Topdog]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Who captains then? Clarke's position is on as rocky as Ponting's and his back looks shot, Huss is an 18 month promotion at most (and I dont think hes particularly astute tactically), Watson hasnt captained a side in his life and Haddin is too hit and miss. Ponting is the only option and will be untill Clarke can prove both fitness and form for the long term.

well we are in a World of trouble then because Clarke will never be fit to lead the country and if we are so set in our ways then we are in for a 10 year leanspell.

[lemmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Cameron White

Probably has as much claim to it as anybody but selectors conservative nature will ensure a guy with three tests under his belt wont be named captain

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Probably has as much claim to it as anybody but selectors conservative nature will ensure a guy with three tests under his belt wont be named captain

What I find weird is that they are happy to change all the bowlers around, but the batsmen and captain have been the same for 48 months despite a drastic slide in performance.

There's too much prestige in the captaincy position in Australian cricket -- it's a functional postion on-the-field and should be seen as such, where the best person for the job should do it. India didn't hesitate to take the captaincy off Sachin Tendulkar when it became clear after a handful of Tests that it just wasn't his forte -- India and Tendulkar ended up both much better for it. Ditto England and Pietersen.

If Ponting never had to carry the burden of being a shit captain, he would be remembered fondly as an Australian great. Instead, just as they have with everything else, the selectors screwed this up and ensured that he will be remembered as one of the worst captains we've ever had.

There's no reason for Australian cricket to be so damn conservative about finding the best captain for the job.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Why don't they make Warne 12th man and captain.

He can stand at slip all day and direct traffic.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

If Clarke gets the gig, he will become the worst captain in Australia's history. He will be lucky to even win a series.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

If Clarke gets the gig, he will become the worst captain in Australia's history. He will be lucky to even win a series.

Is it possible that an Australian captain could become less popular in Australia than Douglas Jardine?

[Mantis]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

If Clarke gets the gig, he will become the worst captain in Australia's history. He will be lucky to even win a series.

How do you know that for sure?

He will be the least popular (as per SS's response), but he may well be a good captain.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

How do you know that for sure?

He will be the least popular (as per SS's response), but he may well be a good captain.

I was thinking with the current lack of depth - CA's refusal to blood the youngsters, when he takes over, we will be lucky to win anything. I believe statiscally he will end up as our worst ever captain.

Plus, from what I have seen of his T20 and OD captaincy, he doesn't have a clue.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Probably has as much claim to it as anybody but selectors conservative nature will ensure a guy with three tests under his belt wont be named captain

Wouldn't it be a bit irresponsible to give him the captaincy when he hasn't even settled into the side yet though?

My knowledge of cricket is limited, but why not give it to someone like Katich for a year or two? It would let White settle into the side and to see if he's good enough for test cricket. Anyway I think it's only inevitable that Clarke will take over from Ponting.

[hujsh]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

Cameron White

Would it be expecting too much for him to come into the team and immediately become the captain? Ideally he'd come in next test, make a few runs this series and become captain after we lose.

[Mantis]

Re: Ricky Ponting - Back him or Sack him?

My knowledge of cricket is limited, but why not give it to someone like Katich for a year or two? It would let White settle into the side and to see if he's good enough for test cricket. Anyway I think it's only inevitable that Clarke will take over from Ponting.

Katich is 35 and has a body that is falling apart.... No thanks.