Ricky Ponting steps down as Captain (Updated)

[pup11]

It's hard to know what the root cause of Clarke's woes at 4 really are, but if it's got to do with facing the new ball you would thinking having a stronger top 3 would give the ball more time to soften, making it similar to coming in at 5 anyway. If it's a mental thing it's hard to know what will happen, but I think an unfamiliar batting position will be the least of his worries.

I think its pretty unfair to associate Clarke or Ponting's form with the positions they are batting at, regardless of where you move them if they keep batting the way they have been doing for the last 12 months or so then there isn't much hope for them.

They both are excellent players and should bat in the top 4 only, because if players of that caliber are going to just slide down the order and push the young rookies into the line of fire then it just diminishes the value of having players with such ability in the side.

Having a top 3 of Hughes, Watson and Khawaja is also pretty much asking for trouble because no matter how talented they might be, Hughes and Khawaja are inexperienced and Watson too is yet to prove himself as a top order player who can score big runs.

 

[howardj]

I think Watson is teh most bankable top order player in the world.

 

[pup11]

Weak decision really to continue playing ODIs.

Can't believe they didn't insist he quit this form of the game.

Don't know why its a weak move to continue playing ODI's, the team is in a rebuilding state and therefore his experience is very important in that process.

Also its a very unlikely event but its a chance that he might just make it into the 2015 worldcup squad, that tournament is gonna be played in Australia so there is every chance that Ponting might consider that as the best stage to hang his boots.

 

[howardj]

41?

You're kidding, good sir.

Even his ODI form is not what it once was

 

[robelinda]

Still need bowlers who can get us 20 wickets, that is a bigger concern. No matter who bats where it will do us no good it teams are 1/517 every match.

 

[Spark]

Personally I'd like

Katman
Watson (do you really gain that much from him at #3 comparing to him opening?)
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke

 

[howardj]

Don't know why its a weak move to continue playing ODI's, the team is in a rebuilding state and therefore his experience is very important in that process.

.

Watson and Clarke are experienced enough to carry the burden in ODIs.

You can't rebuild if you have Haddin and Ponting in your top order in ODIs.

 

[Jono]

Haha if Ponting is in the Australian ODI team for the 2015 World Cup it will be ridiculous.

 

[pup11]

I think Watson is teh most bankable top order player in the world.

Yeah... that's only if you are expecting just a quickfire 50-60 from your test opener.

The thing is Watson has been excellent with his consistentcy and ability to pass the 50 mark in pretty much every alternate innings but there is no hiding from the fact that soon after that he just throws his wicket away.

Now you don't see that from good top order players from around the world, once they get a start they go onto convert that into big runs and tbh that could often be difference between a team winning or losing.

 

[howardj]

Personally I'd like

Katman
Watson (do you really gain that much from him at #3 comparing to him opening?)
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke

not the worst, depending on who you have at six.

i just can't have kat, punt, huss, hads all in the same team again.

 

[Spark]

There are a range of candidates. Muss for experience, there's Smith with incumbency, Cosgrove, Marsh, Ferguson (yeah I know)...

 

[social]

Right decision IMO

Tbh, I would've gotten rid of him after the '05 Ashes as that was a series we never should have lost

Anyway, fantastic player and I hope he can rediscover some form because we sure need him

 

[pup11]

Haha if Ponting is in the Australian ODI team for the 2015 World Cup it will be ridiculous.

Well if his form improves and if he still has the hunger and desire then why not..?

 

[howardj]

Because his ODI game is in decline
Because he's struggling against pace
Because he'll be 41
Because he'll likely be a liability in the field

Even Hildick will call time on Punter by then

 

[Spark]

Meanwhile I've already seen people talk about White for captaincy (+1 failure) and Paine (+1000 failure).

 

[pup11]

Watson and Clarke are experienced enough to carry the burden in ODIs.

You can't rebuild if you have Haddin and Ponting in your top order in ODIs.

Drop Haddin then, but it won't be any good bringing in someone like Paine to replace him though.

Anyways Ponting has to stay not only because of his experience but becuase of his class as well, if Ponting gets himself back into some form then he would be the best batsman in Australia by a comfortable margin and I don't think then it should be a problem to find a place for him in the side.

 

[Spark]

This age argument is bizarre. Ponting should play until he's no longer one of the best six batsmen in the country, end of.

 

[social]

Assuming Clarke is captain, reckon the first test of his power will come down to the treatment of Smith

I get the feeling that he doesnt rate him as a front-line option whilst the selectors seem to want to give him more exposure

Like some others, I also think Muss and Kat might be on very shaky ground

I'd prefer to see Hughes get an extended run rather than take the short-term route with Kat as I've seen some genuine improvements in his game this year and sense that he is one big test score away from being a very good player

 

[pup11]

Because his ODI game is in decline
Because he's struggling against pace
Because he'll be 41
Because he'll likely be a liability in the field

Even Hildick will call time on Punter by then

If he is all those things then he would naturally go, but Ponting is a natural athlete and very fit individual and if he has his focus on achieving that as a goal then he would make it happen.

 

[Spark]

I mean if you really wanted to accomodate Katman and Hughes then

Katman
Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja/Mussey

is the most logical choice to me.