Ricky Ponting steps down as Captain (Updated)

[Jono]

Khawaja not close to the ODI team. But if you're talking tests than you'd say yes.

 

[blahblahblah]

but ponting no way near to retirement in tests, aussie players especially legends have always taken the retirements one after other

first ODIS then tests

 

[smash84]

Great knock by Ponting today. Looking at his injuries and the fact that he has nothing further to accomplish in ODI cricket, I don't think he should prolong his ODI career any further. Won't rule out a late-career resurgence in Tests just yet. He will have to grind out a few more knocks like today for the "swagger" to come back properly.

This

 

[Maximus0723]

Haha, what is it with posters from other countries making blanket statements about Australia?

Maximus, my chum, I disagree.

Chum

So, what you reckon? Enlighten me

 

[Top_Cat]

Watson for number 3 in all forms of the game, for mine.

 

[robelinda]

Would be perfectly happy for Watson at 3, technically he is really good. Haddin can get out, time to decide between Paine and Wade, idiot selectors like Paine- lets block for 8 overs then slog, good gameplan Tim. Always love a leftie up the order in one dayers, Wade is the man.

 

[outbreak]

I agree with you 110% Robe. I'd much rather Wade as our back up keeper over Paine and quite possibly prefer Wade over Haddin (Haddin never fills me with confidence and throws his game away alot).

 

[robelinda]

Well Haddin just isnt capable it seems of delivering the goods as an opener, no big hundreds, lots of wasted starts that arent even fast. Is he going to improve? I think not. We know Wade has tons galore in the last 2 seasons and is one enormous hitter of the ball, if there's anyone who can be even close to a Gilly type player, its Wade, Not that i'm looking for a clone of Gilly, but Wade is such a natural free scoring batsman with power, he really needs to be tested in international cricket and why wait, he's proven his worth in domestic cricket, i cant see any reason for him to wallow in state cricket for the next few years while we see Haddin plod his way to retirement, but it looks as though Paine is the man in the selectors eyes, but i'd pick him for tests and let Wade do ODI's.

 

[Spark]

How are Wade's shield numbers? Because whilst Paine hasn't looked out of depth at test level, only one FC ton...

 

[robelinda]

Matthew Wade | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

Excellent numbers.

 

[Burgey]

How are Wade's shield numbers? Because whilst Paine hasn't looked out of depth at test level, only one FC ton...

We talking tests or odis? Personally thought Paine's technique looked plenty tight enough at test level, though he didn't have the England attack to face tbf.

 

[Spark]

Tests, that's what I meant when I said he hasn't looked out of depth. Impressive in his short test career. But he only has one FC ton IIRC.

Although to counter your point - he didn't have to face England at home, but he did have to face Amir, Asif and Gul in England. Think that might be a tougher prospect.

 

[Spark]

On Ricky. As outstanding a knock that it was - and it was truly outstanding - I have a lot of trouble with saying Ponting is "back to his best", because this was not vintage Ponting. Ponting at his best makes scoring runs look as simple as just holding a bat and nonchalantly waving it about then. Effortless and imperious. If anything, this was a testament to his near-bottomless determination, but that can only take you so far...

My stance hasn't changed. He'll offer more to the team without the captaincy.

 

[robelinda]

Tests, that's what I meant when I said he hasn't looked out of depth. Impressive in his short test career. But he only has one FC ton IIRC.

Although to counter your point - he didn't have to face England at home, but he did have to face Amir, Asif and Gul in England. Think that might be a tougher prospect.

And went straight to India and looked really good with the bat in an instant.

 

[vcs]

On Ricky. As outstanding a knock that it was - and it was truly outstanding - I have a lot of trouble with saying Ponting is "back to his best", because this was not vintage Ponting. Ponting at his best makes scoring runs look as simple as just holding a bat and nonchalantly waving it about then. Effortless and imperious. If anything, this was a testament to his near-bottomless determination, but that can only take you so far...

My stance hasn't changed. He'll offer more to the team without the captaincy.

Agreed. There is a lot to admire about his character. I'm thinking maybe the injuries are also affecting his game a bit right now, it's almost as if his career is playing out exactly the way Tendulkar's did between WC '03 and '07...

 

[Ausage]

On Ricky. As outstanding a knock that it was - and it was truly outstanding - I have a lot of trouble with saying Ponting is "back to his best", because this was not vintage Ponting. Ponting at his best makes scoring runs look as simple as just holding a bat and nonchalantly waving it about then. Effortless and imperious. If anything, this was a testament to his near-bottomless determination, but that can only take you so far...

My stance hasn't changed. He'll offer more to the team without the captaincy.

AWTA entirely.

Just on the "great players score at important times" line of thinking, Ponting has been letting the team down when we needed him for a while now. How about the Pakistan game? Where was Ponting on boxing day 2010? Hell during our whole Ashes debacle, the only 50 he managed was an absolutely meaningless contribution on a road. How about first innings at the Oval 2009? His been a huge part of the batting collapses that have plagued us for the last couple of years.

 

[Spark]

And went straight to India and looked really good with the bat in an instant.

He did. ITSTL, will have to ponder what that means - India has not, historically, been an easy place to bat early on in your Test career

 

[Noble One]

He did. ITSTL, will have to ponder what that means - India has not, historically, been an easy place to bat early on in your Test career

Looking good whilst batting has never been an issue for Paine. He is one of the hardest cricketers to judge, as he looks fantastic in near every innings he plays.

 

[Jono]

Just on the "great players score at important times" line of thinking, Ponting has been letting the team down when we needed him for a while now. How about the Pakistan game? Where was Ponting on boxing day 2010? Hell during our whole Ashes debacle, the only 50 he managed was an absolutely meaningless contribution on a road. How about first innings at the Oval 2009? His been a huge part of the batting collapses that have plagued us for the last couple of years.

I agree with your overall point, but that doesn't mean you can't admire his knock and the grit it showed IMO.

Great players can't perform in every crunch situation. They're human too, and have frailties like form, injuries, old age etc.

Comments like Ponting's knock today showed that the minute the pressure was on he performed is ridiculous, because he was abysmal in the Ashes and Pakistan.

But at the same time there's something to be like "wow" at his knock yesterday.

Some may argue give a guy enough goes and he will eventually come good. Problem with Ponting is he hasn't been coming good enough for the last 4 years.

 

[Sanz]

I agree with your overall point, but that doesn't mean you can't admire his knock and the grit it showed IMO.

Great players can't perform in every crunch situation. They're human too, and have frailties like form, injuries, old age etc.

Comments like Ponting's knock today showed that the minute the pressure was on he performed is ridiculous, because he was abysmal in the Ashes and Pakistan.

But at the same time there's something to be like "wow" at his knock yesterday.

Some may argue give a guy enough goes and he will eventually come good. Problem with Ponting is he hasn't been coming good enough for the last 4 years.

But who can be his replacement though ? Do they have guys who can match his current performance ?

He has not been bad at all in ODIs :-

Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

In Tests he certainly has gone down but I will still take his 41 average in last 4 years over some unknown.