SA Footy

Not gonna lie, I'm worried. For the past two years or so he has not been anything like the player we've come to know and love. Centuries are becoming a rarity, he is failing to middle them more frequently than I've ever seen, he is getting starts then misjudging a ball he normally wouldn't and his average is now about 55.5 compared with 60+ just a couple of years ago. With Hussey looking on the way out it wouldn't be ideal to have Ponting follow close behind him, but I have this awful feeling that could be what we're about to see.

Is it a rough patch or is there a chance this could be Ricky's last Australian summer in the baggy green?

I am also a bit worried about his apparent decline, sad to see as the guy is a champ.. and I was desperately hoping he would charge back into form with a 5th day match winning ton today but it was not to be. I don't think it will be his last summer though.

I just think he is playing too many risky shots too early in his innings. He needs to get out there and graft for an hour and see how he goes. Maybe his eyes and reflexes are not as razor sharp as they were when he was 25, and Ricky may need to make some adjustments.

Happy anniversary to Sir Richard Ponting
8/12/1995
14 years ago to the day of this thread was Rickys debut Test for Australia


FD88
Take care
Sir Ricky is a legend
Even if you are right on your assumption

Time to give away the captaincy as he is ordinary in that department.
Batting is still ok. His batting is going to decline at some stage and it's just a matter at what stage he isn't contributing as much as a younger replacement would. Would think he'd be around for a few more summers yet.

jackpot jim wrote:Time to give away the captaincy as he is ordinary in that department.
Batting is still ok. His batting is going to decline at some stage and it's just a matter at what stage he isn't contributing as much as a younger replacement would. Would think he'd be around for a few more summers yet.

I keep hearing this yet i still haven't heard anyone who says it offer up a suitable replacement. Clarke is not up to it yet (and i doubt he ever will be) so who is the alterntive? Ponting is no Mark Taylor as a captain but he has improved over the years and he is still the best option we have. In the current side the only other possible captain i see is Katich but that will never happen.

True, there is a lack of captaincy options.
Why wouldn't Clarke be up to it? Never know til he has a go.
Any new captain is always a risk and Australia didn't get to the top and stay there all those years without taking risks, be it on the field or at the selection table.

jackpot jim wrote:True, there is a lack of captaincy options.
Why wouldn't Clarke be up to it? Never know til he has a go.
Any new captain is always a risk and Australia didn't get to the top and stay there all those years without taking risks, be it on the field or at the selection table.

Isn't Clarke V/C. Surely if he had anything to offer Ponting would listen. Ricky is the man for a while yet. People to go before him: Hilditch, Nielson, Hussey, Watson & Bollinger ( Bit tough on Dougy, but bring back Clarky )

FD88 wrote:Not gonna lie, I'm worried. For the past two years or so he has not been anything like the player we've come to know and love. Centuries are becoming a rarity, he is failing to middle them more frequently than I've ever seen, he is getting starts then misjudging a ball he normally wouldn't and his average is now about 55.5 compared with 60+ just a couple of years ago. With Hussey looking on the way out it wouldn't be ideal to have Ponting follow close behind him, but I have this awful feeling that could be what we're about to see.

Is it a rough patch or is there a chance this could be Ricky's last Australian summer in the baggy green?

The biggest thing I would say about Ponting is to agree with you FD that he is struggling to convert starts into big scores (highlighted by the below stats (and yes you can get stats to say what you want them to)). His current problem is that he has for so long set the bar so high, that a run of average form looks far worse in comparison

AVE
55.61 Career
58.71 Start - end of 2007
44.11 2008-2009

Inn/100
6.1 Career
5.6 Start - end of 2007
8.8 2008-2009

Hundreds as % of 50+ scores
43.7 Career
46.5 Start - end of 2007
31.2 2008-2009

Geez, we'd be a much poorer side without Ponting He's still our best batsman even if he is averaging around 44 since 1/1/08. I wonder how that average compares to his team-mates over the same time period? It may be lower than it was, but he's probably still matching his peers in the side.

If he and Hussey left the side who are the next 2 in line?

There's no way this is Ponting's last summer. No way at all.

Last summer as captain maybe, but definitely not the last summer as our no. 1 batsman.

bloods08 wrote:Last summer as captain maybe, but definitely not the last summer as our no. 1 batsman.

Again, who would replace him as skipper? Does anyone seriouly think Clarke would be a better option?

rod_rooster wrote:

bloods08 wrote:Last summer as captain maybe, but definitely not the last summer as our no. 1 batsman.

Again, who would replace him as skipper? Does anyone seriouly think Clarke would be a better option?

I think he should step aside and let Clarke take the reins. Ponting will still be there and can help him if need be. I seriously cant see what your problem is with Clarke.

Are you sure about the team dynamic if the (c) and (v/c) swap roles but stay in the team together? Not sure that's great for team harmony. Does Clarke even want that to happen?

If Clarke is contributing to decisions already as V/C then I'd leave it as is. You don't want too many ex-captains in the side if you can avoid it.

Ponting is a cricket legend and a legend in Australian sport!

He will call it a day when he wants to.

shoe boy wrote:Ponting is a cricket legend and a legend in Australian sport!

He will call it a day when he wants to.

Yep, he's done enough and is still contributing enough to make his own call on the end of his career. I think he cops a bit too much flack for his captaincy anyway, he's done well to maintain Australia's status at the top of the tree given that he hasn't had the same bowling/batting arsenal at his disposal as his predecessors.

he'll retire after next english ashes tour = 4 years

bloods08 wrote:

rod_rooster wrote:

bloods08 wrote:Last summer as captain maybe, but definitely not the last summer as our no. 1 batsman.

Again, who would replace him as skipper? Does anyone seriouly think Clarke would be a better option?

I think he should step aside and let Clarke take the reins. Ponting will still be there and can help him if need be. I seriously cant see what your problem is with Clarke.

I have no problm with Clarke at all. I think he's a wonderful player but i just don't see him being a better captaincy option than Ponting. As i have saaid before Ponting isn't the best captain we've ever had but he is still the best option we have currently.

shoe boy wrote:Ponting is a cricket legend and a legend in Australian sport!

He will call it a day when he wants to.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, I think the media will have a bit to say about that. They do with every other ******* decision to do with our top class cricketers.

I hope you're right for Punters sake.

Drop Bear wrote:

shoe boy wrote:Ponting is a cricket legend and a legend in Australian sport!

He will call it a day when he wants to.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, I think the media will have a bit to say about that. They do with every other f****** decision to do with our top class cricketers.

I hope you're right for Punters sake.

Agree whole heartedly. His spot in the side should be unquestioned.