Ricky Ponting steps down as Captain (Updated)

[Spark]

This is a confusing mess now. Needless distraction.

 

[robelinda]

Any Aussies seriously crapping themselves at a Sachin onslaught reminiscent of 1998? The dude is primed, we are in his sights....

 

[GotSpin]

I don't really understand why CA would bring up speculation regarding the continuation of Ponting's captaincy days before a huge huge match. Such an unnecessary distraction

CARN PUNTER

 

[andyc]

Any Aussies seriously crapping themselves at a Sachin onslaught reminiscent of 1998? The dude is primed, we are in his sights....

You should check out this video someone posted

YouTube - Sachin Tendulkar vs Brett Lee - A Tale of FAIL

 

[robelinda]

You should check out this video someone posted

YouTube - Sachin Tendulkar vs Brett Lee - A Tale of FAIL

Whoever uploaded that video is crazy!

 

[Kylez]

why not? the guy has been struggling for last three years. and his performance has rubbed off on others as well.

Bun posting negative things about Ricky Ponting/Australia. Shocker..

 

[Spark]

Peter Young suggested this morning that the guy who started this rumour may have been the one who sold the media the "Marcus North for captain" pile of lol.

 

[cricketdrills]

Pointing just needs to go.
Australia has had enough of him and he is not performing.

When Australia got beaten by Pakistan, he blamed it on our poor batting performance.

Come on buddy, you made 19. What gives you the right to say that.

 

[Spark]

...the fact that we made 172?

 

[hang on]

should be booted from the odi team after this world cup. i have a feeling that he will be instrumental in 'straya beating india tomorrow.

hope he stays on in tests, though. feel he has a lot to offer as a batsman, though the gollumesque hissing and spitting would have to be curbed, especially if he were to be captained by pup, or anyone else, for that matter.

 

[Spark]

Haha "gollumesque" - that's a new one, I must admit

 

[Burgey]

Any Aussies seriously crapping themselves at a Sachin onslaught reminiscent of 1998? The dude is primed, we are in his sights....

A well directed Tait beamer will sort out anyone's sights



Yes, I know, ridiculous.*











*Tait and "well directed" in the same sentence.

 

[GotSpin]

any aussies seriously crapping themselves at a sachin onslaught reminiscent of 1998? The dude is primed, we are in his sights....

if sachin scores a century we can book our place in the semi-final then

 

[hang on]

i fully expect india to implode spectacularly in their quarterfinal IF tendulkar goes early.

 

[smash84]

Why is it automatically CA's fault that they won't demote him from the captaincy but keep him in the team? Ricky has been an authority figure over most of these players for their entire international career, and I can see why it would be hard for players to play alongside him without him pulling the strings. In particular the captain in waiting. Ricky himself could want no part of it.

I think it's his time personally. He's been in average form for a long time, and in rubbish form for a substantial time too. Most importantly he just doesn't look like he's enjoying it anymore. I have alot of respect for the guy, and that respect would only grow if he detached himself from the team in an orderly fashion making things easier for the team to go on without him.

Still a shame, and I'll be sorry to see him go. He's been such a goliath for cricket in this country, there would be nothing better than to see him off with a WC win, with a classic Ponting ton in the final.

Very well written.

A well directed Tait beamer will sort out anyone's sights



Yes, I know, ridiculous.*











*Tait and "well directed" in the same sentence.

 

[hang on]

How insane is tomorrow night going to be....i'll be just a bit upset if its the last time I see Punter playing cricket. I almost feel like giving up watching cricket if he goes, I dont feel there's many players in the team who I truly hope do well- Hussey I like, Watson, the rest look average.

khwaja looks rather special.

 

[blahblahblah]

Really hoping that Ricky doesn't retire. ODI cricket? Yes, I wouldn't have a huge issue if he choose to retire from ODI cricket.

I still firmly beleive that if Ponting steps down from the captaincy then we will see an improvement in his batting.

I hate CA.

mate, hes not been in the best of form off late, so its in good interest of all he retires and makes way for youngies

coming to test , he can easily play for 3-4yrs imho

 

[blahblahblah]

well robe, some indians feel same about this possibly being sachin's last game too

 

[smash84]

How insane is tomorrow night going to be....i'll be just a bit upset if its the last time I see Punter playing cricket. I almost feel like giving up watching cricket if he goes, I dont feel there's many players in the team who I truly hope do well- Hussey I like, Watson, the rest look average.

I felt the same when Wasim Akram retired. No bowler has been quite as special as Wasim. The guy could do magic with the ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

To be fair to Punter, we don't know how much his finger is still inconveniencing him, so his dodgy form may be connected to it.

Against that he wasn't in absolutely prime nick in the Ashes before he broke it. Prior to the winter I'd have said there was legs in him resigning from the captaincy and carrying on as a batsman, now I'm not so sure. He doesn't look the player he was and at his age any downturns in form could be the beginning of a terminal decline.

He's obviously as fit as he's been for a good few years, before the Ashes he'd obviously slogged his cobblers off and was looking lean and hungry but it just never happened for him and hasn't really since. Anno domini the one opponent that bests us all...