Published: Oct 19, 2014, 02:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 19, 2014, 02:47 PM (IST)
Oct 19, 2014
On being asked about the kind of impact that the India-Australia series in December-January will have on the team’s World Cup chances, Ricky Ponting said that once the mega event starts everything else fades off.
“Nothing counts when the World Cup starts. Whether you win or lose, does not matter. When World Cup starts, you forget everything and start a new chapter. So I don’t think the series will have a bearing on the tournament,” opined Ponting.
But the 39-year-old Tasmanian insisted that it will be crucial how Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the think-tank manage the players in the series Down Under, leading up to the World Cup.
“How they will manage their players is the most important part of it. They should be rotated in the three Tests and the tri-series that follows in a manner that they are all fit and fresh. And when the World Cup starts everything (the results of the series) goes out of the window and you focus on the World Cup,” said Ponting.
Holding the tag of being Australia’s most successful captain across all formats, Ponting also advised the current skippers, including Dhoni, to do their home work well in advance.
“A majority of captaincy is done before the match. Anyone can make bowling changes and put a fielder from square leg to long on but captaincy is more than that. You strategise well before the match. Get into the opposition and once you are on the field you just execute your plan,” said Ponting.
With the role of modern-day coaches changing from just providing technical tips to more about off-field strategising, Ponting insisted the job can be re-named as ‘manager’ than a coach.
“Coaches play a big part in modern-day cricket. I had John Buchanan and to me he was the best coach. Look coaches cannot give players batting and bowling tips, modern players know all that but the new role is more about managing the team. And hence I feel the job should be re-named as ‘manager’,” said Ponting.
