Goodbye RT Ponting 'the ODI player' - you were a legend.

[BackFootPunch]

This all really raises some interesting questions about the end of an ATG player's career.

Scenario One: Ponting is told privately he is no longer required so retires following 18 runs from 5 innings at 3.6. Despite an incredible record over 375 games, some people would argue he has perhaps lost the will to fight for his place and form and is giving up - perhaps the least likely trait Ricky Ponting could ever be accused of having.

Scenario Two: The situation as has happened over the last day. Ponting willing to fight for form but having the decision taken out of his hands publicly. Perhaps robs him of any sort of farewell but has him leave the game exactly as he always played it: without sentiment and always for the good of the team.

Scenario Three: Selectors don't drop him and he doesn't retire, both in the hope he'll regain form as he did in the Tests. He either finds form which lasts until the next WC (he'll be around 40 come 2015) or he continues struggling and keeping the place of someone in better form/with age on his side.

For mine, the second option is the most realistic and pragmatic for the team and the player. Ponting can go out with his head held high knowing that he never lost the desire to play for his country, which is probably a greater legacy and example than a thousand more runs in an already run-filled career could ever be.

 

[Furball]

In short, no, that's completely wrong.

If a player won't retire it therefore becomes the decision of the selectors. Ponting wasn't going to retire and was quite open he was leaving himself in the hands of the selectors.

Unless Ponting announces his retirement, he's still giving the selectors the option of picking him again. Marcuss' point is that the selectors shouldn't be saying "we're going to drop you, you might want to retire" - if Ponting still thinks he can contribute to Australia's ODI side, then there's absolutely no reason for him to announce his retirement, regardless of whether the selectors want to include him or not.

This might not be terminal - Clarke and Watson are coming back after injury and Ponting's place was most under threat because he's the only batsman who hasn't contributed at all this series.

 

[Andre]

Unless Ponting announces his retirement, he's still giving the selectors the option of picking him again. Marcuss' point is that the selectors shouldn't be saying "we're going to drop you, you might want to retire" - if Ponting still thinks he can contribute to Australia's ODI side, then there's absolutely no reason for him to announce his retirement, regardless of whether the selectors want to include him or not.

Yep. Initially I think I misunderstood his point, so apologies for jumping right on it.

But the point still stands - regardless of if you'd play 1 or 100 matches, if you don't make your own decision there are people there who's job it is to make it for you. I'm a little surprised that he's gone before M Hussey but his form has dictated that be the case.

Fact of the matter is if he'd made runs in the one dayers we wouldn't be having this discussion. It was in the lap of selectors; they would have spent an extended time agonising over it, and seemingly he was happy for them to do so as he'd made it clear he wasn't going to retire.

Ponting clearly wasn't going to retire, he'd said so a number of times, so regardless of sentiment it clearly wasn't going to be his decision to make when he went.

 

[Jarquis]

In short, no, that's completely wrong.

If a player won't retire it therefore becomes the decision of the selectors. Ponting wasn't going to retire and was quite open he was leaving himself in the hands of the selectors.

He's one of the first born and bred professional cricketers. You'll see a trend of this happening more often - why would you quit your job if you still love it? You wouldn't.

That's why the selectors had to make a call.

No, that's different. The selectors not picking Ponting is not the same as him retiring.

 

[Jarquis]

unless ponting announces his retirement, he's still giving the selectors the option of picking him again. Marcuss' point is that the selectors shouldn't be saying "we're going to drop you, you might want to retire" - if ponting still thinks he can contribute to australia's odi side, then there's absolutely no reason for him to announce his retirement, regardless of whether the selectors want to include him or not.

(y).

 

[_Ed_]

This all really raises some interesting questions about the end of an ATG player's career.

Scenario One: Ponting is told privately he is no longer required so retires following 18 runs from 5 innings at 3.6. Despite an incredible record over 375 games, some people would argue he has perhaps lost the will to fight for his place and form and is giving up - perhaps the least likely trait Ricky Ponting could ever be accused of having.

Scenario Two: The situation as has happened over the last day. Ponting willing to fight for form but having the decision taken out of his hands publicly. Perhaps robs him of any sort of farewell but has him leave the game exactly as he always played it: without sentiment and always for the good of the team.

Scenario Three: Selectors don't drop him and he doesn't retire, both in the hope he'll regain form as he did in the Tests. He either finds form which lasts until the next WC (he'll be around 40 come 2015) or he continues struggling and keeping the place of someone in better form/with age on his side.

For mine, the second option is the most realistic and pragmatic for the team and the player. Ponting can go out with his head held high knowing that he never lost the desire to play for his country, which is probably a greater legacy and example than a thousand more runs in an already run-filled career could ever be.

Really good post.

 

[Nate]

Never really been a p00ntang fan. WC 2003 innings was absolutely ridiculous though.

 

[howardj]

Would be surprised if he pulled the pin altogether at his 10am presser.

Just a quick question, do we have a Test tour of India in September/October 2012?

Otherwise, after the Windies tour, Ponting won't play for Australia again until SA arrive in November.

 

[Jnr.]

@CricketAus: Ricky Ponting to make an announcement on his future at 11am (AEDST). Discuss your favourite Ponting moments @ #Rickyisalegend

Sounds like retirement from all formats is looming.

 

[Ausage]

Why would he call a press conference just to announce he's not retiring from tests? That kind of thing is normally done by talking to a journalist isn't it. I think he's making the big announcement here.

 

[Furball]

Would be surprised if he pulled the pin altogether at his 10am presser.

Just a quick question, do we have a Test tour of India in September/October 2012?

Otherwise, after the Windies tour, Ponting won't play for Australia again until SA arrive in November.

No, you play India in March/April 2013.

 

[Prince EWS]

Why would he call a press conference just to announce he's not retiring from tests? That kind of thing is normally done by talking to a journalist isn't it. I think he's making the big announcement here.

He wouldn't hold a presser to announce he wasn't retiring from Tests, but holding it to officially retire from ODIs now that he's been dropped seems logical enough.

 

[Burgey]

He's called the presser to announce the launch of his "Bring Back Hilditch" campaign

 

[Furball]

He wouldn't hold a presser to announce he wasn't retiring from Tests, but holding it to officially retire from ODIs now that he's been dropped seems logical enough.

What's Australia's batting depth like in ODIs?

Australia actually have quite a lot of ODI series coming up - as well as the remainder of this series, there's 5 match series in the West Indies, England and in the UAE against Pakistan between now and September. Obviously if Ponting actually wants to retire then it makes this question redundant, but I'd have thought with a decent volume of ODI cricket to come in the next 6-7 months that keeping Ponting around the team would be a smarter option.

 

[Burgey]

@CricketAus: Ricky Ponting to make an announcement on his future at 11am (AEDST). Discuss your favourite Ponting moments @ #Rickyisalegend

Sounds like retirement from all formats is looming.

Yeah it seems a bit of a give away, does that.

 

[TumTum]

Does anybody else find this title funny:

ODI axing may push Ponting towards retirement - Inverarity

Haha ... thanks Inverarity

 

[Jono]

I still don't think he'll retire from tests. Just makes no sense.

 

[Nate]

p00ntag gonna keep playing teh Testzors.

 

[Jono]

I still don't think he'll retire from tests. Just makes no sense.

Yep, logic prevails. Sticking with tests.

People who gave everyone a fright saying he's going to retire from tests, shame on you!

 

[Guido Hatzis]

so.. Ricky drags every single journalist from around the country to announce he's NOT retiring. .. cant wait to see what hes gonna do for his official retirement.