Published: Dec 13, 2011, 10:33 AM (IST)
Edited: May 26, 2014, 02:35 PM (IST)
Numbers as well as Ricky Ponting’s all-too-visible woes with the bat present a damning case against him © Getty Images
By Madan Mohan
Ricky Ponting owns some daunting records in cricket, including featuring in more than 100 Test victories in his career. Last Friday, playing against New Zealand at his home ground Hobart, he joined Ian Botham in a small club of batsmen who have walked to lbw appeal. It may speak well for his fairness, which is not always held in the highest regard, but it is nevertheless a record of dubious value. More than anything, the champion batsman appeared embarrassed at playing all over an unthreatening delivery and vacated the hot seat post haste.
Is the legendary Ponting now a walking wicket for rival bowlers? Is he or Australia embarrassed enough to put his career to sleep?
He didn’t exactly make amends in the second innings either, holing out to cover. His mode of dismissals recently suggests both indecision and a slowing down of reflexes. At the other end, David Warner, slotted by one and all as a Twenty20 specialist, scored a century on a green top, defying the odds. He nearly took Australia across the finish line. Had the Ponting of old given him company, he may well have. Instead, his defiance could not deny New Zealand their first Test win in Australia since 1985.
When Shaun Marsh made a sparkling debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year, I had written in to suggest that he may have made Ponting’s position untenable. Since then, Ponting has notched two half centuries while injury ruled Marsh out of the Test series against New Zealand. Observers wondered if this was just the lifeline he needed. A century against New Zealand might just extend his tenure by a few months, it was felt.
That, though, would have defied the adage of “What goes up, must come down”. Cricket has a sense of justice and retribution and events in the careers of cricketers follow a certain cycle. Ponting buying time with a triumphant series against New Zealand would have been against the run of play and a bit unjust to those waiting in the wings to take his place. Now, all but his diehard supporters would have to acknowledge that Ponting’s career is in a freefall. It has been, anyway, for quite sometime, but his inability to dominate even New Zealand may be the final nail in the coffin.
Ponting has not scored a Test century since January 2010. And the aforementioned half centuries are his only so far this year in 12 Test innings. Against a career average of 52, his average this year is barely 27. In the interim, he has stepped down from captaincy, but continued as a player. His batting prowess was deemed too valuable to lose for the team during Australia’s transition. Thus, breaking with tradition, a former Australian captain has been allowed to carry on in the team after stepping down from the top job. The question to be asked: Is his contribution indeed that valuable anymore?
On that note, let us look at the performances of other batsmen during the same period. Skipper Michael Clarke and Marsh have been good enough to justify their place and Warner only debuted in the series against New Zealand. Among others, Mike Hussey averages 42, Shane Watson 24, Usman Khawaja 29 and Phil Hughes 27. If I may be a bit pedantic here, on decimal points, Hughes has the edge over Ponting!
Of these, Watson is an all-rounder and his bowling lately has been good enough to justify his selection so long as he contributes decently with the bat. I believe as long as the younger batsmen perform, at least as well as an old incumbent or even marginally worse, they ought to be given a preference. Hughes and Khawaja possibly have brighter days ahead while Ponting doesn’t. That means Ponting is pitted against Hussey, and the numbers tell the story. As and when Watson and Marsh return to the side, should Khawaja still make way for Ponting? Or should Hussey have to go? Remember that Simon Katich was earlier left out even though he was batting well because Australia did not see a future in him.
Perception and sentiment might yet suggest other conclusions, but to me the numbers as well as Ponting’s all-too-visible woes with the bat are damning and clinch the issue. Will Australia forge ahead with the ruthlessness that made them the best team in the world for a long time? Or will they pander to the kind of sentiment that nearly cost them a home series against India in 2003-04?
Ponting is one of the all time greats of the game and we would all hope for a fitting swansong for such a legend. But has he earned it?
(Madan Mohan, a 25-year old CA from Mumbai, is passionate about writing, music and cricket. Writing on cricket is like the icing on the cake)
