ICC World Cup

[LostDoggy]

Re: ICC World Cup

Ricky Ponting frustrates me to tears. He's been performing below par for a couple of years now, but just won't let go.

Like most Australians, I loved watching him bat, however I'm starting to forget how good he was, because all I see of late is a player who looks out of his depth. It's like watching Mark Taylor all over again (although Mark did score 334no in the middle of his three year long form slump).

I also look at other players of similar age to Ponting. Tendulkar has realised he is getting older and his reflexes have slowed, so he's adjusted and put shots back in the bag. Smart bloke, he's in career best form. Jaques Kallis did a similar thing, not playing the pull shot early in innings. He's also reaping the benefits of his commitment.

Ricky just hasn't learnt, and I pull my hair out watching him go out to short deliveries, and edge full balls well wide of off stump. Where's your head at Ricky?

I must say though that Tendulkar and Kallis have great techniques to work with, whereas Ricky has always relied on his eye.

Let's hope that he gets lucky during the finals and repays the team for his poor batting, and the way he's been acting of late.

[Greystache]

Re: ICC World Cup

Surprised nothing has been said of Ricky's little hissy fit.... but I guess the care factor is a big fat 'ZERO'.

Probably because it was just a media beat up. You would see 5 worse incidents than that in every match India, Sri Lanka, or Pakistan are losing in. The way they turn on their team mates make Ponting's hissy fit look like gentle encouragement of a team mate.

[comrade]

Re: ICC World Cup

Probably because it was just a media beat up. You would see 5 worse incidents than that in every match India, Sri Lanka, or Pakistan are losing in. The way they turn on their team mates make Ponting's hissy fit look like gentle encouragement of a team mate.

I'm happy for the sub-continent teams to act like ****wits, but not the Australian captain. His reaction was as petty as they come and if I was Steve Smith, I would have told him to get stuffed.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: ICC World Cup

Probably because it was just a media beat up. You would see 5 worse incidents than that in every match India, Sri Lanka, or Pakistan are losing in. The way they turn on their team mates make Ponting's hissy fit look like gentle encouragement of a team mate.

It was an ordinary look.

The main thing is that it was such an over-reaction!

[The Pie Man]

Re: ICC World Cup

Steve Smith's 'oh f___' expression was one of the highlights - just walking around giving low fives to everyone with this 'jeebus what have I done' look on his face.

[Ozza]

Re: ICC World Cup

I'm happy for the sub-continent teams to act like ****wits, but not the Australian captain. His reaction was as petty as they come and if I was Steve Smith, I would have told him to get stuffed.

But I still don't understand everyone's problem with it. Why is it an issue for you as a spectator?

There are plenty of times in sport, where blokes get frustrated with each other. Ponting called for the catch, Steve kept coming at the ball and nearly stuffed him up and Ponting reacted. And afterwards they laugh it off.

I think the issue for most people is that it was Ponting - and most have turned on Ponting.

[Mantis]

Re: ICC World Cup

But I still don't understand everyone's problem with it. Why is it an issue for you as a spectator?

There are plenty of times in sport, where blokes get frustrated with each other. Ponting called for the catch, Steve kept coming at the ball and nearly stuffed him up and Ponting reacted. And afterwards they laugh it off.

I think the issue for most people is that it was Ponting - and most have turned on Ponting.

As did Smith.

Ponting came across as being a tosser... which is pretty apt.

[Ozza]

Re: ICC World Cup

I think there is a propensity to over analyse everything cricketers do these days.

Players aren't allowed to show any emotion in pressure environments without the public looking down their nose at them.

Personally, I don't agree with it - and enjoy cricketers wearing their emotions on their sleeve a bit more. Each to their own I guess.

[LostDoggy]

Re: ICC World Cup

I think there is a propensity to over analyse everything cricketers do these days.

Players aren't allowed to show any emotion in pressure environments without the public looking down their nose at them.

Personally, I don't agree with it - and enjoy cricketers wearing their emotions on their sleeve a bit more. Each to their own I guess.

You can probably relate to this then which puts into context the whole question

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/not-the-messiah-hes-a-very-naughty-boy-20110317-1byxx.html

RICKY Ponting picked his nose last night. It was an ugly incident, drawn-out, messy, devoid of all the style and grace Ponting used to display as a young nose-picker. Plainly, the Australian captain is not dealing at all well with his nose-picking decline.

It added to a litany of dereliction and disgrace. One day in Melbourne, Ponting argued with an umpire, unprecedented in cricket history. Another day in India, he flung his box after getting out, also a cricketing first.

I distinctly recall the day he only half-smiled at Mark Taylor at a post-match interview. It was one of the most egregious acts of only half-smiling ever seen. Also, the collar of his shirt sat at an odd angle. Clearly, the Australian captain is falling apart.

It has been a week of heinous offence. Jarryd Blair's finger gesture as Collingwood celebrated its pre-season premiership prompted indignant splutterings as soon as it was spotted nearly two weeks later, and after the rush to Wikipedia to what it was that so offended us, and why we deserved an apology. There was also Julia Gillard's giggle, which must soon disqualify her from office. Obviously, she is not dealing with it.

But Ponting, of course, had to outdo them all. Bumped by teammate Steve Smith while preparing to take a high catch in Australia's World Cup match against Canada, Ponting held the catch, but then flung the ball into the ground.

Brute. Monster.

The only problem for the ICC is to decide under which statute to charge him. Equipment abuse? Bringing the game into disrepute? Bringing all games into disrepute? Failing to sort out the Middle East? Or - most grevious of all - embarrassing adidas, because its name was on his shirt? Hard to see him playing again, this side of Armageddon. Also, he did not smile. Not even a rueful grin. Wilful, blatant, provocative non-grin.

Really, it is sad to see the Australian captain fraying at the seams like this. Tetchy, testy, a menace to mankind. All this follows hard on the heels of the Bourbon and Beefsteak incident in 1999. Any minute now, he will announce that he is going into rehab, as soon as there is room. Also, he's been getting out early a lot. But in cricket terms, that is beside the point.

A heretical alternative version of this incident has it that Ponting cares deeply about his post as Australian captain, takes team setbacks personally, was galled by Australia's Ashes forfeiture - for which he was held personally responsible - is tense about his own form, was irked by Australia's sloppy cricket early in this match, had time enough to see Smith out of the corner of his eye and feel alarm, time enough also to think of the embarrassment that would ensue if they botched the catch …

And that in those circumstances, his reaction scarcely deserves to be called a tantrum and was in fact an understandable, mild and even humanising venting of the moment's vortex of emotion, similar to Tasmanian captain George Bailey's reflexive action in kicking the ball away after dropping Phil Hughes in the Sheffield Shield final yesterday, as much a hanging offence as double parking. But Ponting is Australia's favourite whipping boy, and so all that matters is his punishment; the crime always must be made to fit it.

[Ozza]

Re: ICC World Cup

That is sensational, EJ. Thanks for posting - really enjoyed it.

[Mantis]

Re: ICC World Cup

No offence EJ, but I wouldn't bother wiping my arse with the paper that was written on.

Ponting carried on like a flog and needs to be called on it... To make matters worse he likens it to Bailey's act.. What a crock of horse shit.

[DOG GOD]

Re: ICC World Cup

As did Smith.

Ponting came across as being a tosser... which is pretty apt.

Spot on Mantis, and thats coming from me who would be one of his most "haters" out there. To me, he came across like a moron the way he threw the ball into the ground and walked off with a spoilt brat look on his face. he couldve easily just looked at Smith and laughed it off (he did catch the catch FFS), but no, he has to show his true "dont u know who i am?" colours.

[Sedat]

Re: ICC World Cup

The Poms have inadvertantly made this tournament, with every one of their matches being a cracker. They have won/drawn matches against the better nations they had no right to and lost matches against minnows that they should have well and truly iced.

[Greystache]

Re: ICC World Cup

I'm happy for the sub-continent teams to act like ****wits, but not the Australian captain. His reaction was as petty as they come and if I was Steve Smith, I would have told him to get stuffed.

It was an ordinary look.

The main thing is that it was such an over-reaction!

I loathe Ponting as much as anyone and more than most, but seriously, this was nothing more than him showing frustration at the teams lack of organisation and discipline.

Ponting was camped under the catch, he clearly called for it, yet for some reason Smith still went for it. At this level you should be able to work out who's in the best position to take a catch (Ponting was, and I'm certain his team mates around him would have been calling out the same), if Smith can't do that then it further highlights to me the lack of basic fundamental skills these young players coming through have.

[comrade]

Re: ICC World Cup

I loathe Ponting as much as anyone and more than most, but seriously, this was nothing more than him showing frustration at the teams lack of organisation and discipline.

The irony is he's the guy who's supposed to instill and enforce organisation and discipline within the group, yet he acts like a complete twat.

His over reaction/frustration at such an innocuous incident screams of a guy completely out of his depth at the highest level.