Published: Sep 11, 2011, 12:12 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 17, 2014, 05:09 PM (IST)
By Madan Mohan
Shaun Marsh’s dream debut really couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time for former Australian captain Ricky Ponting who returned to Australia for the birth of his second child making way for Geoff Marsh’s son’s entry into Test cricket. The rain-affected second Test at Kandy may well not return a result, but Marsh’s influence has nevertheless been telling – perhaps too much so for Ponting’s future in the team.
Typically, when Australia has retired captains, they have also retired them as players. They have preferred to pre-empt the question of how the new captain would deal with the ex in the dressing room. With Ponting, they chose to make an exception, recognising unflattering realities of the state of Australian cricket. With Australia in the throes of a painful transition, the selectors preferred to retain Ponting’s vast experience after he had stepped down. But Marsh may just have answered the question of “What next” on their behalf.
Ponting has not looked out of nick but he has strangely failed to help himself to big runs. He seems to suffer repeated lapses of concentration while at other times, his reflexes appear to have slowed down. His favourite shot, the pull, has become a liability and he was dismissed off a particularly ungainly attempt in the first Test of this series in Sri Lanka.
Since his 209 in January 2010 against inexperienced Pakistan, Ponting has not scored a Test century. Prior to that, there were only four other centuries since 2008, with three of those in that very year. This clearly does not make the most convincing case for giving him a still longer rope. Indeed, it is hard to see Australia holding on to him during their glory days. But the exodus of several of those brilliant players left the side badly depleted and the selectors had to take a more pragmatic view of the matter.
When Ponting stepped down as Test captain after the crushing Ashes loss at home, it endangered his place in the side even more. But remember that Australia saw fit to utilise Steven Smith as their no.6 at this point. Thus, Ponting, riding more on reputation than form, continued to be a part of their plans in a break from tradition.
Except that Marsh’s hundred on debut may embolden the selectors to deal Ponting a tough hand. The Don Argus-led review has already indicted the selectors harshly for their inability to put in place and implement an effective succession plan. Ponting would now be seen as coming in the way of the development of a bright new prospect. Him or the other senior Mike Hussey, that is, who was subject to a veiled attack by the review report.
Unfortunately for Ponting, Mr. Cricket has been the backbone of the Australian batting line-up so far in this series. His expertise in grafting continues to stand him in good stead in the subcontinent. Ponting has sadly not shown the requisite patience and determination to compile big runs, not just in the one Test at Galle but lately. Between Hussey and Ponting, the axe may fall on the player long seen as the most indispensable performer in the batting line-up.
It would be in the fitness of things if Ponting’s swansong is at Sri Lanka, the place where he led his first, resounding campaign as Australian Test captain. It would also not be in the fitness of things if the legend is not afforded the formality of a graceful farewell. Team man that he is, I don’t think Ponting would like to go down as the man who came in the way and I expect that he would make the right choice.
Ponting deserves to sign off at home. It proved a good omen for India when Steve “Tugga” Waugh played his last series and, hopefully, it will this time around too!
(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)
