Ponting a dead man walking
Updated
The country needs, the country demands, bold, persistent experimentation. Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But, above all, try something.
Those aren't my words but those of Franklin D Roosevelt on the campaign trail in May 1932 ahead of being elected for the first of his four terms as US president.
The American public reacted favourably to Roosevelt in a time of great turmoil - a catastrophic global economic depression closely followed by a Second World War.
Whilst the current trials and tribulations facing the Australian cricket team are miniscule compared to those facing Roosevelt and his electorate, perhaps his sage advice could nonetheless be taken onboard by Cricket Australia.
Australian cricket is definitely at its modern-day nadir.
Not since the mid-1980s has it looked so impotent and ineffectual, especially against its Ashes arch rival.
The recovery of the coveted urn is no longer an agenda item this summer.
Australia's next tilt will be on foreign soil in 2013.
It wasn't that long ago that Ricky Ponting spoke with fire in his belly about winning a series in the northern summer at his third attempt as skipper.
This summer has shown that dream to be folly.
Ponting is a dead man walking.
Despite his mea culpa following his onfield outburst on the second day in Melbourne, it remained the actions of a man who is struggling to retain his grip on his own plight and that of his team's.
He battled through 100 minutes at the crease on day three before falling for 20.
His eight innings this summer netting 113 runs at 16.1.
More worrying, his last two calendar years have produced an average of 37.9 through 25 Tests with just two centuries.
If Ponting doesn't choose to walk the selectors have two options - tell him to drop down the order or call time on his career.
Now in his 37th year, the latter seems the best path.
The man groomed to replace him is under pressure himself to hold his place in the side.
Michael Clarke's series output reads like another horror story - 148 runs at 21.1.
His last seven Tests, spanning three series, have produced 289 runs at 19.3.
Since moving up the order to number four, his form has deserted him.
Rumours abound that those who sit around the board table at Cricket Australia headquarters are not unanimous in their support for him as Ponting's successor.
First-pick players at present are lean in numbers.
Of those in the frame, perhaps Brad Haddin is the man best suited to assume the leadership, having been a successful first-class captain with New South Wales while awaiting a Test call-up.
Phillip Hughes was cruelly run out by his opening partner Shane Watson for 23 in Australia's second innings.
His two-Test recall has produced 53 runs in four innings.
The jury is still in deliberations over his future, given his questionable top-order technique.
Steve Smith is another whose future remains clouded.
His four innings this summer have seen him score 87 runs while his 18 overs have produced figures of 0 for 71.
Michael Hussey was given a stay of execution at the start of the series and thankfully from an Australian perspective he was.
Despite dual failures at the MCG, he has been a stand-out with 525 runs at 75.
But, after next week, Australia's next Test commitment will be eight months away in Sri Lanka by which time Mr Cricket will be beyond 36.
It might sound cruel, but perhaps the time may be ripe by then to make a hard call if the man has not done so himself.
The bowling stocks are also a major concern.
Perth now appears an aberration rather than a rebirth.
Mitchell Johnson lost form as quickly as he seemed to have recovered it.
Ben Hilfenhaus has toiled hard but he seems to lack zip nowadays and if he can't make the ball swing he seems reasonably innocuous.
His 119 overs across three Tests this series have garnered him four wickets at 75.
Following solid form in Adelaide and a devastating showing in Perth, Ryan Harris's 28 overs proved fruitless while he conceded 91 runs before he succumbed to a stress fracture in his ankle.
The selectors may not alter much for the final Test in Sydney but beyond that the time has come to make some tough calls.
It is time to draw a line in the sand and build for the future.
It may not meet with immediate success but it is time to get tough, identify young talent, back them and start the journey that will hopefully see Australia return to a force in the cricket world.
Glenn Mitchell is a sports commentator for ABC Grandstand Sport.
First posted
Comments (169)
Comments for this story are closed. No new comments can be added. If you would like to have your say on this issue, you can do so via the Emails section of our Opinion pages.
-
woodypear :
29 Dec 2010 8:16:29am
It appears that the whole selection process needs looking at. Don't selectors look at the statistics? If so, do they look at most recent rather than career average, which appears to be the case. I would suggest that there is too much made of "test cricket being a completely different ball game". If it is, then let's give more and more players exposure to it. Try some more out.
-
roo :
29 Dec 2010 9:10:49am
Yes, couldn't agree more... some Australian cricketeers are given far too many games when out of form.
With our next cricket manager coming from a rugby background we might begin to see more changes.
Perhaps we can get Mick Malthouse to become our next coach - this is this last season coming up. Then we would see players put on the field because of form and not long past glories.
Lets look for players that understand that Test Cricket is not a one day or 20/20 game and openers need to make hundreds or spend at least two hours at the crease, to be called an opener.
Ponting at five, Watson at six.
Lets look at two new openers and new numbers three and four. Maybe move Hughes to four... he's not an opener yet.
roo-
jack :
29 Dec 2010 9:53:30am
Looks like its time for the batters to change, instead of using the bowlers as an excuse for losing all of the time.
My Sydney test team:
Nic Maddison
Mark Cosgrove
Usman Khawaja
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting
Cameron White
Brad Hadden
Nathan Hauritz
Peter Siddle
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
Most of this team would be around for 5 to 10 years-
The Runt :
29 Dec 2010 10:48:51am
What we need is a team of 26 to 30 year olds that have played the shield for 5 6 years and preformed over a long period with reasonable consistency competive hard blokes. Macdonald Bailey Klinger Quiney Broad Cowan.
-
ray clarke :
29 Dec 2010 12:37:34pm
The non inclusion of Hauritz is one of the blunders that Shane Warne told the selectors to avoid. But they did not listen did they?
-
Robert :
29 Dec 2010 1:21:30pm
Phil Hughes
Shane Watson
Usman Kawaja
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Mitch Marsh
Tim Paine
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ben Hilfenhaus
Other fringe players would be Callum Ferguson,
Trent Copeland, Steven O'Keefe, Mark Cosgrove, Cameron White. I think Shaun Tait needs to be looked at to get Cricket Australia to resolve it and get him interested to play Test cricket....I think that is a failing on behalf of management that he is on the outer disinterested. Same ethos around time when Shane Warne played....plenty of kids, etc took up sport and talent search to identify the next Warnie was zilch zippo nothing! Thats because management and selectors are hack nothings with an average coach called Nielsen running a pedestrian show of it! Nielsen should be shunted no ifs buts or maybes as should Hilditch and others!
Its time nearly ready to retire "OLD" players get the heave.....Hussey, Haddin, etc and Michael Clarke put on muscle as he looks ordinary to even hit a boundary as thin as without gusto to his batting! -
Rusty Gate :
29 Dec 2010 1:23:23pm
Your line of thinking is sharp but you have some howlers there Cosgrove would be good if he didn't have a Kit kat in his hand all the time, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus have failed this summer and don't penetrate. White I like but not for Tests should Be ODI and T20 Captain. Can't quiet think how dropping Hughes is good he was the sharpest looking batter in both MCG innings and if wasn't run out then he may well have cemented his place. This guy despite being in out in our still averages more then his counterparts and significantly more then Hayden and Langer did at the same time in their careers. We should build around him and others. Squad: Hughes, Maddison, Hussey (Khawaja when he retires), Ponting (Ferguson when he retires), Clarke (C), Watson, Haddin, Hauritz, Siddle, (Combination of Harris/Johnson/Cameron/Bollinger to rotate when fit)
-
-
jenny :
29 Dec 2010 11:11:41am
I vote for Paul Roos to be on the national cricket selectors panel
why should they come just come from old cricket players?
-
-
acker :
29 Dec 2010 9:32:44am
Current selection process appears to hardly place any merit on form..as for the captaincy I would be happy if it moved onto Shane Watson next test, Ponting and his deputy Clarke have blown it in my opinion
-
-
scott :
29 Dec 2010 8:17:27am
It seems to me that cricket here has been in a downward spiral since the incident where CA refused to back Andrew Symonds when he was vilified by Indian players in Australia. Since then things have steadily deteriorated.
-
Ray Boulton :
29 Dec 2010 9:28:05am
Got it in one.
-
Algernon :
29 Dec 2010 9:34:38am
Completly agree. The positionsof those at the top of CA have been unteniable since that time.
-
Stavros :
29 Dec 2010 10:58:04am
Correction, "allegedly vilified". Otherwise, get out the violins.
-
peter of mitcham :
29 Dec 2010 12:18:41pm
I absolutely agree, Scott. It certainly prompted me to withdraw from the Cricket Family". Also agree about Paul Roos. Warne to be Australian coach. New band of selectors. Crikey I'm angry!!!
-
-
Erko :
29 Dec 2010 8:20:01am
Quite simple really
1 - Sack the coach immediately its not just our batting and bowling our fielding is woeful as well suely its time for Neilson to shoulder his fair share of the blame (Strange how we now very rarely hear him)
2 - Replace Ponting now offer to bat him down the order or sack him harsh yes but whats the alternative?
Erko-
PK :
29 Dec 2010 9:35:39am
I agree Erko, Australia's fortunes closely follow Neilson as coach. The fielding now is appalling compared to what it once was.
What has happened to the selection process? Can Australia no longer produce good bowlers or are the selectors simply overlooking other promising bowlers that we haven't had the good fortune to see? One thing is for sure though, we they need to start selecting the batters based on current form. Ponting should bat lower in the order, but Clarke really needs to go - he's been useless for several seasons now. Also, even though Watson has been batting OK, he keeps running out the other batsmen - he does it regularly. This is costing the Australian side dearly so he needs to sort this out or be given a rest.-
roo :
29 Dec 2010 10:35:46am
Watson has run out 6 team mates in 26 test matches.
He obviously has a major flaw in his ability to read short runs. The number of near miss runouts would be in the many dozens...
He needs to bat lower, and this will take a lot of pressure of the first 4 batters when they are trying to settle into the game and make steady runs.
roo-
Phrosty :
29 Dec 2010 1:04:58pm
Yeah, if Watson was much further down the order, his apparent skill as an ultra aggressive 20 twenty/one day opener, could be unleashed; and or, used against the second new ball? Moreover, given he was able to rest after a stint in the field, he could possibly bowl a bit more; and, cement his spot as a genuine all-rounder? Watson needs more assertive partners, who simply refuse to run on a blatantly bad call; then, he would be the one walking back to the dressing room and perhaps even contemplating his future. One assumes that might be enough to cause him to be a bit more selective about running the suicide singles; but particularly, when "some" of the side, are fighting to save the match!
-
-
eljay :
29 Dec 2010 10:53:08am
sort of agree with the above postings but i think its time for a complete clean out of CA, the selectors suck, the coach is invisible, ponting as a captain has for me never had the spark of his predecessors, is totally lacking in imagination and seems to captain by numbers, clark gone, hughes flash in the pan, smith mmmm juries out,Beer inspired or insane don't know have never seen him play, bollinger gone, hilf sorry gone, harris now gone, johnson enigma needs a tough captain(waugh)otherwise waste of space, watson down the order 5 or 6
we have a ship load of talent pawing at the ground waiting to have a go. Fergeson - much respect, usman - so much potential, Marsh brothers - wow talent to burn, our bowling stocks are awe inspiring at the moment
so for petes (or gawd) sake bite the bullet, i would even accept Cameron White as captain but we sure as hell need something
-
-
Grassynoel :
29 Dec 2010 9:57:05am
Players ought to know almost everything there is to know about the technical aspects of the game before they ever get near the Test team. There should be no need for a coach. A problem is that players are selected without experience or form.
-
Spin Doctor :
29 Dec 2010 12:14:00pm
Fully agree, Erko - what's Nielsen's record like as a coach? Okay, he was probably behind the eight-ball from the time he took over from Buchanan as Hayden, Langer, Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist were all gone within a year and Stewart Clark (man of the series last Ashes out here) and Symonds weren't far behind. ACA must shoulder their fair share of the blame as well - fancy leaving the fielding coach at home in Brisbane during the series.
Fair enough, Ponting is struggling but remember the selectors stuck with Greg Chappell after a long run of ducks. To replace Ponting for Sydney is folly - the new skipper would be on a hiding to nothing.
Of course, there is always the option of bringing Warney back for one last hurrah as skipper. They were still coming out pretty well in the nets during the lunch break yesterday. Don't laugh - it's not as crazy as some of the selection options so far this series.-
Phrosty :
29 Dec 2010 1:12:28pm
A dead rubber patently ameliorates against your hiding to nothing, and is an excellent opportunity to blood/test some very promising youngsters!!! Plainly, nothing more is lost if one or two fail; if that then allows other, even more talented youngsters to shine, by not allowing the old hands in the dressing room; to psyche them out of the natural game and abilities; that saw them selected initially! Capishe?
-
-
Phrosty :
29 Dec 2010 12:50:43pm
You can't teach talent; either you have it as a natural gift or you don't! Nor can you turn back the clock, when players/former greats, encounter age related loss of form! As for the coach, you can only do so much as a coach, but only with relatively young players, whose bad habits are not yet engrained? Give him something to mould and then see if any element of your blame shifting critique holds any water?
-
-
Jase :
29 Dec 2010 8:23:36am
Glenn, I don't think anyone could say it as well as you have put above.
I would also like to add that maybe there should also be a review of the selectors as they were the ones that let it get to this point before acting upon it. They are the management [basically] of the team and shouldn't let the 'business' get to such a horrible position before adjusting the business plan. Lets just say, if it was the real world the shareholders would have had the 'boards' heads long before this time.-
Truds :
29 Dec 2010 11:30:49am
How about athlete development? Does the ACB rely soley on the Sheffield Shield to develop its player base....surely they should be identifying promising athletes from early age, giving them the exposure and development they need to eventually succeed at higher level!
-
Phrosty :
29 Dec 2010 1:34:02pm
When you say selectors, one imagines you also include state selectors, given, the next Australian side is invariably drawn from that particular cadre of so-called "talent". What we do need are some talent scouts, tasked exclusively, with finding and promoting that raw talent, while still at school, when some excellent professional coaching, would make a real difference; and, hone it to its ultimate level, while youth, fast twitch fibres and reflexes, make them players, who can then only ever improve, as they peak. You can't tell me that from a talent pool of literally millions, we can't find another Bradman, Heyden, Chappell, Warnie, another McGrath, Lillie or fastest white bowler ever, Jeff Thomson; or indeed, another Gilbert or native born Gary Sobers, who may well be vastly superior, to any of the aforementioned Legends? One recalls a Clive Lloyd led, West Indian team of unheard of youngsters, who went on to dominate international cricket in all its forms, for a decade. Capishe?
-
-
solly :
29 Dec 2010 8:23:55am
The problem is too dramatic for it to be down to Ponting alone. For a team to go from almost unbeatable, even Australia A would have faired well in the test arena, to easy beats in two years. There is a dramatic problem at a much higher level in the ACB than the playing staff.
-
Points North :
29 Dec 2010 12:08:52pm
Quite right, solly, the problem goes far deeper than the captain. There was a time when the top competition in Australian cricket was the Sheffield Shield and all first class players aimed at playing for their state. It far surpassed the standard set in English county cricket, for instance. Now the situation is reversed; top players are no longer available for the Shield teams - they are off playing one dayers, world series and worst of all, the hit and giggle of 20/20. As a result the Shield comp is virtually relegated to second class, not much above good club cricket. In contrast English county cricket has gone from strength to strength, able to attract first class players from around the cricketing world, not least from Australia. How long has it been since a player from overseas has featured in a Shield side? Yet it was quite commonplace not that many years ago. The comp is no longer good enough to attract them.
-
MK :
29 Dec 2010 12:50:13pm
It's been happeneing for more than 2 years,
the problm was when things were going well, all that was bad was glossed over,
It didnt matter we werent picking the best players,
people were getting overlooked whole career,
But we were slowly being poisoned,
Its not just ponting,
but we need to start at the top
Captain, Coach(es) and ideally selecters
all must go
to allow for the healing and rebuilding to start
We should have started 2 years ago
-
-
davido :
29 Dec 2010 8:24:16am
only hussey and haddin deserve to stay.sack the rest,especially the players who spend more time being photographed for fashion magazines and not training.also sack the selectors and the coaching staff.this is a team that has embarrassed their country.some players needed to decide if they want to be B list celebrities or test cricketers
-
Big Fella :
29 Dec 2010 8:27:56am
About time - Ponting, Clarke, Hughes, Smith, Johnson and Harris must GO. There is plenty of time to blood some useful talent present in the Shield comp.
If the selectors can't or won't make the hard decision then the crowds ($$$ for CA) will make the decision for them.
Their performances were, at best gutless and at worst, a sorry indictment of the mantra that "...its harder to get out of the Australian team than it is to get in..."
Time for a new broom and a Rooseveltian approach.-
Timothy Wolf :
29 Dec 2010 11:08:43am
You are a bit tough on Hughes, he is one of the young ones that should be blooded in when he is in form. He is only 21
-
Truds :
29 Dec 2010 11:34:19am
I agree,the crowds have been down over the last few years which is why the 20/20 game has been promoted so much for revenue raising. There is nothing wrong with 50 over or test cricket, forget the tailored, revolving door selection policy, get an aussie team together that care about playing cricket for their country, not a bunch of show ponies, keep them together and develop their skills, the crowds will return...
-
ClareD :
29 Dec 2010 1:28:16pm
There's certainly something in what you are saying about building a team Truds ....not possible with a revolving door policy and fear based performance. Guys have to feel trust in all the layers of CA. Comments above have already indicated that CA need a good hard look at themselves...couldn't agree more. You could feel it throughout the series. The tension was leaking out all over the place. C'mon guys ...get it together.
-
-
-
Braddles :
29 Dec 2010 8:29:09am
Here here. The selectors and coaching staff also need a reboot. New blood must be brought in
-
Tim Hoff :
29 Dec 2010 8:30:51am
I witnessed the same wolves out for the scalps of Greg Chappell, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and now Ricky Ponting.
All these captains had a run of poor form answered by a critic silencing innings. In Mark Taylor's case the highest test score by an Australian (at that time).
Ponting is one of the greats and sure as eggs his form will come back. We should back him for a while yet.
I do agree that he needs to drop down the order though.
I hope that the selectors give a few of the up and commers a run in the 5th dead rubber test and 'rest' the unperformers.
But they won't.-
whirlybits :
29 Dec 2010 9:33:19am
Ponting has had his chance already - time to move on. That's life.
-
Tribune :
29 Dec 2010 12:43:26pm
Yes that may be necessary. Despite the statistics, I have never been that impressed with Ponting as a captain - more impressed with him just with the bat. His outburst with the umpires when under some real pressure for once illustrates just what's lacking. Easy to look good when you're coasting!
I suppose its easy to put the boot in once form is lacking and such a defeat is suffered, however perhaps its time to move on and start afresh, because the current formula is pretty disastrous, and Ponting has not justified his retention of the captaincy, especially in being part of losing the Ashes twice. One has to return to the days of the captaincy of Ian Chappell to see such a poor Australian team. Perhaps ex captain Ponting down the order and less pressure may assist a return to form - I am reminded of Kim Hughes.
Full credit to England though - they have placed an excellent team on the ground and given us some decent competition for once; and a good lesson in humility and sportsmanship, which is well overdue for this erstwhile cocky Australian team.
-
-
Tim :
29 Dec 2010 9:34:02am
When was Waugh's head ever demanded?
Taylor had a diabolical form slump, however unlike Ponting he still had class as a leader and a captain on the field. Ponting has neither.-
The Runt :
29 Dec 2010 10:32:41am
Ponting is all class always had been, unlike Taylor who had a team of hard men Ponting like Border is struggling (remember Capt Cranky) and yes at times it may seem that he is constantly whining but for petes sake is he not allowed to put some passion and pain into his job the rest seem to just want to hide in the shadows when it gets tough. As for Waugh not hard enough to bat at 3 hid himself away at 5 or 6 and had a team of champs around him to bail Aust out all the time. John Howard could of batted at 6 and won with his team. We all need to harden up a bit and support the bloke not run sooking when we lose a few who else is there to lead a disjointed team back to winning ways. Pup you are kidding Haddin poor bugger has it hard enough keeping and batting without all the capt stuff or maybe someone who cant even make the current test side to put them under more pressure. Of them all that are out there now a fit Katich is a short term solution a great hard capt of NSW.
-
Rhino3 :
29 Dec 2010 10:38:55am
Waught was under enormous pressure to retian his place - there even a doc out on his perfect day.. remember when everybody was calling for his head and he came out and hit a hundred - got it off the last ball of the day at the SCG....
I can't say I'm happy about the current flogging...but i don't think mass change is the answer. Ricky should be safe...only becasue there isn't another captain up to it at present....you don't breed people like Allan Border after years of flogging every other team. Yeah we've got a team who plays tests like they are T20's, but I guess thats all they've ever seen growing up... -
Matt :
29 Dec 2010 10:49:33am
Sorry, Mark Taylor was a very good captain but he too stayed on far too long, if he was not the captain of the side he would have been gone long before. He kept the best opener we have seen, Matthew Hayden, out of the test scene for too long.
-
eljay :
29 Dec 2010 11:00:11am
agree 1000000% ponting is the worst captain we have had since (struggling here) he toke over a team at the top but has not shown to have any depth as a thinker or as a general marshalling his troops.
does cricket by the numbers and has been at the helm for some of Australia's most embarassing moments, even the triumphs when he was at the helm the credit must go to others e.g. India Gilchirst led when Ponting came back we promptly lost, last home ashes Warne, Mcgrath etc all stood up Ponting just had to show up
-
-
Timothy Wolf :
29 Dec 2010 11:05:50am
Ponting has had two years of grace already. An average of 20 for the past two years is not what is required from a number 7. I dont remember anyone calling for Steve Waugh's head, he was a great great captain, unlike the current one who managed to lead the best team in living memory to defeat in England. It was evident from early on that he was a poor selection as Capatain, but CA is more focused on the clean look than the ability of the players.
Shane Warne or Adam Gillcrest would have made excellent cricketers for a period of two or three years, but warne was left out because of his bad boy image, likewise Simons was a excellent tallent with the bat and was only left out because off field behaviour. When will CA wake up and get ruthless.
-
-
The Runt :
29 Dec 2010 8:31:53am
During the glory years not so long ago we were all told the strength of Oz cricket was the nursery of the Sheffield Shield where players spend years learning the hard day to day grind of big cricket, now it seems that the selectors just throw some young bloke in after 10 games or so before they even have time to work out the the demands of the game Our most sucessful batsman Hussey had to wait 10 years to get the call and it was worth the wait and he has played like it was something he earned not like it was a right. Play the blokes that have done the hard stuff not just pups with a few thousand lines in the paper, they maybe the next big thing but at least make them earn it. Ponting has captained a team where it seems that he has to be everything to everybody and as such his batting has suffered, just maybe if the Baileys Whites, Hodges etc had been picked then he would have the hard heads around him so it was not like a kindergarten. Test Cricket is a hard hard game and should be played by MEN with skill attitude and sense of the work needed to get there. Lets not blame Ponting for the softness of young men. Remember G Chappel and his olympic rings 5 ducks but he came back. Ponting has been so good for so long we tend to judge him harsher than others. If this is the end then to Ricky Ponting thanks for some real great memories.
-
nairbe :
29 Dec 2010 8:32:28am
Right on Glenn. The time is here to out with the old and trust in the young. That for me means out with Clarke, he belongs to an era of Aussie cricket when we took all, the new generation have to work to earn it not take it, that comes later.
-
elle_bee :
29 Dec 2010 8:33:03am
The issues covered here make sense but until the selectors do what most do in other sports it seems we will have more of the same. it seems its harder to get out of this team than to get into it. Ponting's outburst should have been a grade 2 offence. Clarke, Hilfenhouse,Johnson and Ponting look worried about their pay packet rather than the sports goal of hunger to win
-
wandererfromoz :
29 Dec 2010 8:33:07am
We all know Ponting has to go and as someone said the media created star - clarke - with him. Only the selectors are still asleep at the wheel as are all the selectors down to the grassroots. Funny how we are so concerned about this but not who the treasurer is, defence minister is, etc etc
-
peter :
29 Dec 2010 8:33:55am
i agree with glenn the time has come for some hard calls to be made for a long term fix not just a quick fix that papers over the cracks,we need a hard man like one a.border to oversee the transition from where we are now to a team that can show some grit when the going gets tough,there will be no quick fixes with so much emphasis on one dayers and twenty twenty games. The young players in form in the shield games need to be given a chance and show some patience to bring them along to mature test players,its a long rough road ahead but it can be done,just look what the english have achieved
-
Jo :
29 Dec 2010 8:34:09am
Maybe CA can get John Howard to open the batting.
-
Peter W :
29 Dec 2010 2:15:30pm
I agree. Ponting losing the plot with the umpires was the stuff of good captains. It fired up Siddle and Johnson for the new ball. As Johnson was the only bowler capable of firing in short balls that worried the Poms and he was used sparingly, maybe an injury, Johnny seems a logical choice. Reknowned for his infamous short ball, he could also open the bowling; sending down a few bombs as well.
-
-
BJR :
29 Dec 2010 8:39:31am
Time to look at the selectors too. Brad Hodge never got the chancer he deserved, Cameron White has been doing great things for three times longer than Smith and if David Hussey had moved to NSW five years ago he would be a veteran of 30 plus tests now. Before you say here's another Victorian shooting his mouth off, I am from the ACT. All I want is a competitive Asutralian side not a below par NSW and friends country team
-
Algernon :
29 Dec 2010 9:43:53am
BJR, NSW leads the Sheffield Shield by 10 points and only needs another win to host the final with two to play. That without thier test players. NSW doesn't have a selector and hasn't since 1995, at the moment they're two from SA and Tasmania. I agree with you about the selectors bar Chapple though.
Cameron White isn't up to test standard and is unlikely to ever be.
-
-
c charlton :
29 Dec 2010 8:43:06am
The captain can't be blamed for all the problems that the Australian cricket side is facing.
Probably, the lack of form is a result of the poor selection processes that have been made since the ashes defeat in England in 2005.
Primarily, our 'strike bowler and all rounder, Mitchell Johnson'. Secondly, the chopping and changing of the team in reaction rather than pro-action.
Start with the selectors, cut out the 'old boys (players) network' of TV commentators and 'experts'. Gag Warne. and leave Ponting to try and get the team back together. -
Algernon :
29 Dec 2010 8:45:22am
When Australia was on top you could get away with not playing that well. When the team isn't you can't. When Australia went through bad patches in the 70's and 80's they developed enough players to play in three test teams. Unfortunatley the current lot of selectors and administrators haven't. In the 80s Australia only had one decent player being Alan Border and he was no captain. When Mark Taylor arguably Australias greatest Captain, came along things start to improve as he was a good backup for Border. A test team was developed. When Taylor called it a day the drovers dog could have captained the team. Waugh was that drovers dog, never batted higher than 5 never went out of his way, played it safe for him. Ponting is no different to Border though his time has come. England isn't a great team, good but not great, well coached and developed over 3 years. That will hold them in good stead for the next decade.
The Australian team with the right development will come back. At the moment its two to three years off getting back to where they once were. There is no point in burning players like Hughes and Smith who are both young and a year or two off being very good test cricketers. They and a few others need to be developed.
Players though need to be developed.There is no point in dropping a player like Hauretz and replacing hip with someone as inexperienced as Beer just because he played a few games of grade with Warnie and he though he was alright.
We'd be better off with selectors who know what they are doing. Greg Chapple is a step in the right direction. The others haven't been up to scrath for years.-
Scott :
29 Dec 2010 10:25:43am
Algernon, I find your slight on Border ludicrous. Border brought Australian cricket from one of it's lowest points and built a team that was confident and extremely well disciplined; it was this legacy that Mark Taylor benefitted greatly from. If this is not the sign of a great captain what is?
I do agree that what the Australian team needs is the right development. This includes getting in a caoch of the likes of Bobby Simpson or Buchanan who can instil skills, strategy and composure.
Maybe it is time to look at the structure of the Shield competition, it does not seem to be producing the hardheads it did in the past?-
Algernon :
29 Dec 2010 11:18:54am
Scott, Im not trying to slight Border at all. He was a great player surrounded by mediocrity. If he failed the team failed. It took a player like Taylor behind him to develop that team. Taylor was his deputy and the transition to him was seamless as he was part of the leadership that developed the confidence in developing that team. Border also played until he was 40.
It was Border and Taylor that built Australia to a great team. Border stopped Australia from losing Taylor turned them into a team of winners.
Perhaps we need to look a little to the past. How often do test players play shield these days.
-
-
-
Dave in Brisbane :
29 Dec 2010 8:48:42am
I think Ponting should be given the heads up that Sydney is his last test as both Captain and player and allow him to reitre with dignity. khawaja to replace Ponting & Ferguson in for Clarke (who should have been dopped long ago.
-
Bomb78 :
29 Dec 2010 9:27:57am
Dave in Brisbane: here in lies the problem. Replacing Clarke with Ferguson is just another line pushed by someone with an agenda - young Callum averages less than 36 in first class cricket. I'd have not only Khawaja in front of him, but players like Mark Cosgrove, Sean Marsh and Chris Lynn, all of whom are in form right now.
-
Uber Unter :
29 Dec 2010 9:29:50am
Pup should have been "dopped" last year. He hasn't been the same since his Bingle bungle. Lara could see the writing on the ball and now Pup can't even see the ball.
-
-
NotAFan :
29 Dec 2010 8:50:00am
Winning can hide a lot of failings. When you are not on top they are harder to hide.
Ponting has never been a leader that has inspired. Whether we are harsh in comparing him with the great captains of the past, I don't know. But the reality is he has never shown their grace or sportsmanship.
I don't know whether that sportsmanship will ever return to cricket - but it would be nice to think that was possible.
If Ponting has any grace [or even if he just wants to preserve his future earning potential] now would be a good time to announce his retirement ... before someone else does it for him.-
whirlybits :
29 Dec 2010 9:30:31am
Well said!! Ponting really ate away at the Aussie reputation, and is not a real leader, but rather a miss-guided leader.
-
Ian :
29 Dec 2010 11:13:04am
I agree NotAFan
A very dissappointing Captain. A good Captain's first task is to groom his own replacement. All I have ever seen in Ponting is a captain who just saw threats to himself.-
Rusty :
29 Dec 2010 2:01:49pm
What a load of rubbish! What threats did Ponting get rid of. Eh? Who are these imaginary cricketers with knives in their backs?
Like Glenn Mitchell who has led the Ponting-bashing for years, you obviously have a personal dislike that has nothing to do with observation.
He is actually devoted to his team, puts them first, to the extent that Indian gasp with amazement at the lengths he goes to for them - like taking drinks out to young nobodies when he has been 12th Man - an unthinkable action in the class-riddled Indian, English and Pakistani teams.
-
-
-
Matt Powell :
29 Dec 2010 8:54:25am
Glenn, you are absolutely on the money. This is exactly the conversation I was having with the crowd around me yesterday at the G, while watching a dismal performance by Australia.
The fact the selectors are not making choices based on merit, is even more frustrating. Form based selection, once a player has been given his chances would have 5 or 6 of our current players on the sidelines.
The other major comment from the crowd I was talking too is no one rates Michael Clarke, and not many want him as caption. The general consensus is Brad Haddin, but he might need to rekindle some fire in his belly too.
Ricky was a great captain when he had a great team, where his aggressive style was backed up by the talent who could handle it. Sadly, when the team needed a strong defensive leader, he's been sorely lacking. His refusal to do what is better for the team over his own needs is infuriating, at least he could have taken himself out of Number 3 spot, and stop the rot at the top of the order.
And finally, I sadly agree that nothing will be changed for Sydney, which should now be taken as a perfect opportunity to try some things out against a quality opposition. Drop Ponting and Clarke, give Haddin a test run, without declaring it his one and only chance, throw in the next breed of bowlers and batters and lets just see if we can identify the future of the Australian team and not witness it's continued downfall. -
Wisden :
29 Dec 2010 8:54:55am
Start by sacking the selectors and coach! It's about time teams were selected on form, not reputation.
-
Blue Orchid :
29 Dec 2010 10:18:42am
Hear hear!!
Like all sport and businesses a team is only as good as the players and their motivation, the selectors and coach must carry most of the burden, poor management and direction will demotivate anyone!!! -
Not a happy chappy :
29 Dec 2010 1:50:30pm
I do not think it is reputation that keeps a lot of these players in...it is their contracts and relationship with CA and sponsors. I agree the coach & few of the so called support staff especially Cooley should go as should COS Hilditch and Cox ( both SA based now ) and very much old school......it is all about business, the three tier contract system ( test, ODI & T20 ) means a bloke like Smith with hardly any real cricketing pedigree 9 or in my view ability ) is one the "higher" valued CA players. Think back to Mark Waugh, Boof Lehmann 10000 first class runs before a game for Aust. We give it away now, pick underperforming under prepared and massively overpaid players who just are not up to it. Too many overpaid, over exposed and underperforming...no hunger and I dare say it PRIDE...it is now just another game of cricket and the circus moves on....and please do not get me started on the dopes in power with CA and various State Admins....all only about their own little worlds,corporate boxes and being seen to be effective locally.....all done with mirrors. Lets just hope now coaches, players and admin are seen for the frauds and self serving types they are. But wait The FKFC Big Bash will save us all...give me a break....develop cricketers not 4 over thrashers and get back to developing batsman who can build an innings and looking like a batsman not like Smith and just "hit and miss" merchant....but that again is how they are coached.
-
-
Keith :
29 Dec 2010 8:55:12am
Australia's selectors have been unable to do any of the suggestions that Mitchell advocates in his article over the last four years: What makes him think that they'll be able to do so now?
Inept,impractical,unwilling,moribund, all these terms describe the selector's decisions and thinking and throw into that mix CA's poor management of an Australian icon; the Australian Test Cricket Team and there lays the larger part of our problem.
The revolving door that has been our selection policy for so long now must stop. -
Andy :
29 Dec 2010 9:00:50am
I think your right Glenn. I know they say making constant changes unsettles sides and is disruptive but we are in dire straits at the moment and change is inevitable. The selectors have to decide if Steve Smith is a specialist spinner or a number 6 bat, at the moment he is neither, but does show some promise. I dont think the bowlers have done too badly this series, its true they have struggled to take 20 wickets but look at the scores they're defending, hard to bowl with confidence when your batters cant get past 100. Change of personal and possibly culture is required to breathe some life back into this side.
-
Ian :
29 Dec 2010 9:09:38am
I'd get rid of Ponting, Clarke and Johnson immediately. Ponting is in terminal decline and be given the retire or we drop you ultimatum now. Clarke's head is not in the right place and he should go back to the Shield to try to find it. Johnson should go back to the Shield and be told when we say 4-5 high standard games in a row we'll think about picking you again. Mike Hussey also needs to be told to retire after the World Cup and go out on top of his game.
-
peter :
29 Dec 2010 9:13:33am
I think the selectors and coach must go.
there does not seem to be many shield players that are standing out. The technique of Hughes and Smith are woeful, I cant imagine that in years gone by they would be selected with such basic flaws in the their technique. -
Ian :
29 Dec 2010 9:13:36am
I'd also add that picking 35 year old players should be the exception to the norm, and only if they are world class and still on top of their game. There needs to be regular regeneration of the team, and turning over the old blokes to make room for the young ones serves that purpose. I'd rather see us struggle with young guys who might take us forward than to struggle with old players hanging on for their pay cheques.
-
Broughto :
29 Dec 2010 9:14:27am
It's been all downhill since Buchanan was dispensed with to let the current egos loose. New selectors, new coach, new captain and youth policy please.
-
Stuart :
29 Dec 2010 9:16:41am
Put White in the team instead of Smith. Make White the new captain.
-
Algernon :
29 Dec 2010 9:50:39am
Bad move. Make Haddin captain. White isn't a test cricketer and never will be.
-
Matt :
29 Dec 2010 11:01:10am
I'd have Simon Katich as my captain, yes he is old but he is hard nosed in the mould of AB and Steve Waugh, which is what I believe we desperately need now in Australian cricket.
-
Paul :
29 Dec 2010 12:28:37pm
If Steve Smith is a test no.6, so is Cameron White.
-
peter of mitcham :
29 Dec 2010 12:49:50pm
Really Algernon? On what evidence do you say White is not a test cricketer? Maybe the old NSW dictum whereby they keep their own players in for yonks and give Vic and SA players one or two tests to set the world on fire then out. Doherty didn't get much of a chance did he? What about Michael Beer? Then again, Algernon, they're not test cricketers and never will be, eh? Hmmm? What?
-
-
-
No excuse :
29 Dec 2010 9:17:02am
The current results are not surprising.
Whilst the rest of the world have worked hard on improving their cricketing skills, Ponting and Co. have been relying sledging as their preferred weapon - especially against the POMs and Indians.
When decisions don't go his way, he always put on that open mouth gold-fish expression on incredulity.
Yes boys, time to ditch those glossy photoshoots and tattoo parlours. You are meant to represent our country and be an example to our kids, so stop behaving like schoolyard thugs, and start acting like well-paid professional adults. -
Robert :
29 Dec 2010 9:17:48am
Get rid of coach as not much success with him! Sack Ponting as captain. Get rid of selectors as terrible selections.
My side for next test would be:
Phil Hughes
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting
Callum Ferguson
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Steve Smith
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ben Hilfenhaus -
Ed :
29 Dec 2010 9:26:55am
Why oh why did you let it come to this Ricky? Great timing has been a hallmark of your batting career, but in the biggest innings of all you have missed the time, and opportunity to go out on top. On the broader question of performance by the batsmen it's time CA introduced performance pay, not as a bonus, but simply to bring about a higher standard of performance.
-
whirlybits :
29 Dec 2010 9:27:03am
Well said.
Andrew Hilditch has to go too. The selectors appear to be a rabble.
Get some people in there that can do what Simpson & Border did for us in the 80's, please!
Personally, I believe that the short forms of the game are cannibalising the Aussie side. We need a decent sized nucleus of one side in all forms. For the continuity, and fans too. -
John :
29 Dec 2010 9:27:34am
Get rid of team management, coaches and selectors and hand control to the irascible 'greatest captain we never had'- Warnie. The guy knows what he's talking about....he's the best cricket brain this country has. And what do we do? Ignore his abilities and allow him to cheapen his talent with triviality.
Radical problems demand radical solutions.-
Dazza Hynt :
29 Dec 2010 10:10:05am
While this is one of the more outrageous comments it probably has the most merit. Unfortunately it will never happen.
Warne as coach would be a super opportunity to use his phenomenal cricket mind and ego to develop the current and future crop of cricketers. At the very least he would inspire his players with his experience, his unorthodoxy, his tactical ability and his intense passion.
But, if the unwillingness of the selectors to do anything is an indication, Warne's selection or nomination will never happen.
-
-
Over the Fence is 6 and Out :
29 Dec 2010 9:32:12am
MICHAEL CLARKE does NOT deserve to be Australia's next captain and should be the first cadidate to be dropped for his consistent and repeated failures in the matches that count. Ponting is going to wear the poor performances of a number of players around him and the disastrous selection decisions taken on his behalf. How Clarke and Watson have been able to hold their spots is just unbelievable. Their needs to be a clear selection criteria so that the players and the public can clealry identify those performers that deserve opportunities. We simply can't have a repeat of players like Hodge and Lehmann wasting their talent and careers at state level.
The Fascination with NSW players is sickening and nobody deserves the right to be groomed as captain until they can prove sustained and consistent performances at international level over a number of years. I cannot remember a single game saving innings by Clarke that could match anything that Stave Waugh, Mark Taylor, Alan Border or Ricky Ponting delivered for their nations team.
Our Bowlers are not to blame for the loss of the ashes, it's our pathetic and brittle batting line up that has handed the ashes back to Engalnd and it simply isn't fair that Ponting will be expected to carry the bag for the poor performances of his team-mates and the national selectors. -
Winston Smith :
29 Dec 2010 9:32:40am
A lot of dead wood in the Australian team stopping many good young state players getting a chance. Get rid of Ponting, Clarke, Hughes, Haddin (Haddin is not even Australia's third best wicket-keeper). Give Hussey the job of captain for one or two years to nurse a young team through. Copeland, Faulkner, Khawaja, Hussey, Paine, and give Cosgrove a chance. There is plenty of talent playing state cricket not given a chance play cricket because selecters prefer experience over form.
-
Winny Blue :
29 Dec 2010 9:35:23am
Good call Glenn!
Arm-chair critics tend have simple solutions to issues that are usually more complex. As such a critic I believe test cricket in Australia has for a very long time been hampered by a few perennial problems 1)the role of a coach or coaches 2)inability or unwillingness to rotate players as the English team did in the current test 3)providing contracts that were not based in equal part on qualifying performance, on-field performance and off field conduct 4)not selecting players for the conditions and game 5)over emphasising NSW players' ability.
Perhaps it is time for CA to look at what other sporting codes do in regard to players, coaches, selectors and management. No-one in a team or organisation should be exempt from being reviewed, assessed and evaluated. -
PK :
29 Dec 2010 9:42:55am
It would silly to dump Ponting, as he's one of Australia's all time great batsmen. He's not in form at the moment but I'm confident he'll return to form before to long. Also, he's really the only sensible choice form captain at the moment.
I agree though that Clarke, Hughes, Johnson, Hilfenhaus, and just about every other player in the team should be given the axe until they return to form.-
MK :
29 Dec 2010 11:05:23am
you might be confident,
but you're wrong
Its only been a two year slump,
this last year was only a lot worse than the previous year,
Historically Bradman is a better batsman than Ponting....
Yes, ponting is the 2nd best austrlain batsmen of all time,
does not mean he should be in the team
Were not picking an all time XI,
were picking a team to play cricket now -
Timothy Wolf :
29 Dec 2010 11:32:40am
Send him back to sheild cricket and if he get back into form then let him back into the team. Tests should not be used for form gaining.
-
-
BO :
29 Dec 2010 9:44:26am
Coach has to go. Nielsen strikes me as uninspirational, too many soft terms, 'playing group' and more. Its a love in fest and he is constantly in denial about 'group' performances when he rarely fronts the media.
The little things Australia have done well now desert us, exemplified by Trotts dive to survive a run out, and hughes lunge to be run out. This alone displays a lack of hunger.
As for the rest, "ditto" Glen Mitchells piece -
Dr Spec :
29 Dec 2010 9:44:47am
There was a time when captains, or other players for that matter, knew when their time had come, when it was in the best interests of the game and their country for them to step down.
But add the fact that they are also stepping down from multi-millions of dollars a year and the decision gets clouded.
What that means is that the selectors have to change to, and they need to push people out when they have passed it.
Ponting you HAD a great career.
Please put it in the past tense. No point waiting for that last great 100 (which would come eventually) if we have to suffer so much pain in the interim. -
dewy :
29 Dec 2010 9:46:21am
Glenn your comments are on the money. But my thoughts are turning to who is in the test team in 2013. Also realise that Dan Cullens form plummet has hurt Aust cricket very badly.
-
David Turner :
29 Dec 2010 9:48:53am
You guys are simply amazing. Australia has dominated world cricket for 20 years. As soon as you loose a game or three you turn against your own. Should be bloody ashamed of your selves. what happened to giving credit to the opposition?
Ponting deserves better from his fans and cricket Australia. -
Jason :
29 Dec 2010 9:49:57am
I like Ponting alot. He's one of our greatest number 3's but he has to drop down to 6 for the last test. Khawaja will need to come in at 3. I don't believe that Hughes has the technique to be a long term opener and should be replaced. Clarke should also be dropped. Now that the Ashes are lost it's time to completely rebuild, and it should start in Sydney. Smith isn't good enough to bat at 6. If CA is serious about Smith as a bowling allrounder then bat him at 7 & get him to spend a few hours with Warnie.
-
Shane 2 :
29 Dec 2010 9:50:23am
Phil Hughes should not open for Oz. He has known technical deficiencies against the ball into his body and he doesn't play in the V. Get some guy in there who plays in the V for the first 10 overs and leaves balls that don't need to be played in the early overs. Basic opening batting.
-
junglejim :
29 Dec 2010 9:51:23am
Australia is being outplayed by a better team. Thats all. Rosevelt was condemmed as a communist towards the end of his extended term as president by the naysayers of that era.
-
Luke :
29 Dec 2010 9:57:08am
I agree with most of the comments, and definetly with Glenn Mitchell. Ponting had the perfect reason for a break..his finger. Clarke and Johnson need to give up their tatoo parlour seats and concerntrate on their jobs. If CA wants the public to come to watch these (potentialy) great games, then put the best talent on show every time.
-
Peter :
29 Dec 2010 9:57:24am
I still cant get even the selectors in not picking Hauritz. I really feel for the guy, swallow your pride and pick him for the Sydney test Hilditch and co...
We need to start from scratch, we have 8 months until Sr Lanka and some tough decisions need to be made. The older brigade need to go, im dieing to see Uzi perform for Oz. Id like to see Callum and Klinger in the team, Watson must bat at 6 and have a greater input in bowling.
Also, we need to persist with Hauritz cause quite frankly we have no spinner. -
d :
29 Dec 2010 9:58:30am
Firstly all teams go through good & bad spells. That Australia ruled supreme for so long was due to a crop of excellent players both as bowlers & as batters. The period also corresponded to a time of drier wickets & few excellent seamer bowlers as opposition. The conditions suited the style of both batsmen & bowlers that Australia then had. The Australian batsmen got used to rapid scoring against average bowling & the bowlers used short of length bounce to achieve results. The down side (this has also been reinforced by the short games based more on bash than traditional technique) has been neglect of defensive technique & grafting additude on the part of batsmen & the abiliity to bowl consistent line & length & to have control of seam & swing. In short times & tactics have changed but Australian players seem not to have noticed. The current losses to England are all the worse since the England team is not a great team...with proper bowling they should struggle to make 250...as evidenced in Perth. In the current "test" Peter Siddle was the only bowler who cut the mustard re line & length..if the other have figures such as his the England team would have got about 120 not 500. Both bowlers & batsmen need to go back to the drawing board but this will take a lot of time & is actually counter to the short game demand where the real money is. For the Sydney game dump the non performing bowlers.
-
Ivan :
29 Dec 2010 10:00:28am
This story mirrors my position on the Australian cricket *situation* almost exactly.
"Almost", because you are not hard enough on the Australian selectors, Glenn.
They ditched Merv Hughes as a selector, which was purely scapegoat activity, in my view.
Greg Chappell is asleep at the wheel. Where is the new, young talent coming through to edge out the grandfathers of the game still at the crease?
In Chappell's own era, the game only began its ascent from obscurity to World Champions, after the broom went through the selectors and the team. The process took time, and instead of continuing the formula, sentiment set in, and we seem to have retained the public favorites long past their useful and best contribution.
It is nice to have heroes who *have been* past performers; and we love to dream that they will once again rise to their former glory. But this is not congruent with remaining at the top of world cricket.
We can not have *brand-name* cricketers in the game, and expect to stay at the top. The compulsory flow of new talent has become blocked by the detritus of old house-hold names.
The rest of your article I fully agree on ... but the selectors are remiss as well as the players - bring in selectors with vision and imagination, and let's reverse this train wreck. -
Will :
29 Dec 2010 10:04:48am
After reading all of the posted comments surely there can be an approach of getting our past heroes into selection & coaching. Taylor, Border, Waugh, Mcgrath, Warne etc etc, some led through the tough times some excelled through them to make Aus Cricket what it was......
PS Where is the Cricket Academy,once a world leader producing world beaters -
Wiseafter Theevent :
29 Dec 2010 10:05:41am
Before jumping on your bandwagon Glenn, I have one question. Why didn't you write this article immediately after the Perth test?
-
Davotrueblue :
29 Dec 2010 10:07:15am
Ponting should step down as captain and pass it to Haddin or Clark. If he could just concentrate on his own game he can go out a winner in Sri lanka whilst help bringing some new talent through.
-
Trevor :
29 Dec 2010 10:11:34am
It's not Ponting's current batting woes I'm worried about. It's his attitude. Blowing up at umpires AFTER something has been referred to the 3rd umpire to check the video replays is just ridiculous.
He has never come across to me as the kind of man who can dig in during the tough times and pull his team through. When the team was winning thanks to having incredible bowlers like Glenn McGrath, all well and good. But when it's more difficult, Ponting looks like he's more likely to sulk or have a tantrum than to show the right kind of leadership. -
hobbo62 :
29 Dec 2010 10:11:47am
I would take Captaincy off Ponting, but keep him. Move him to 5 or 6, drop Clarke back to Shield cricket to find form. Make Haddin Captain. Hughes has to go until he gets his technique right. The selectors must go too. No spinner in Melbourne was a ridiculous decision that was always going to fail. Our only chance was to win the toss.
-
PK :
29 Dec 2010 10:58:22am
I think Clarke needs to be dropped fullstop! I agree with retaining Ponting and dropping him down the order, but it's difficult to have a wicket keeper calling the shots so I'd retain Ricky as captain.
The selectors are absolutely useless as is the coach. Australia's perfromance slump closely follows his rise to the coaching role. I realise that the team no longer has the talent it once did, but he's not getting the best out of what he has that's for sure.
-
-
Paul :
29 Dec 2010 10:14:55am
Well said. Ponting has to go, and perhaps Clarke as well. There may well still be a spot in the one day team for those guys, but their test days should be over.
Ponting is one of the best batsmen Australia has ever seen (Top 10 without a doubt), but his form has slumped and his captaincy has not been great, as seen when we lost the last ashes after some dubious Ponting decisions gave them draws when there should have been Australian wins.
Get the new blood in, give them some experience and we'll give the Poms a better go next time... And as an ABC commentator said this morning, note that the England test teams and 20/20 + One day teams are VERY different. They have test specialists, Australia on the other hand, does not have much diversity. Taking One day batsmen into tests is a sure way to fail. -
seajae :
29 Dec 2010 10:24:35am
the aussie selectors need a swift kick, hilditch is useless and has buggered up the selection process, he needs to go. How can ponting win a test when he is being given a bad team, ca doesnt back its own players and the players themselves seem more interested in how they fare in the media or paid advertising. We need players that are ready to actually worry about the game not their personal lives or egos, we also need selectors that will pick inform players and not keep backing lame ducks because thwey were good 2 or 3 seasons ago. This is exactly the position we were in when Border took over the captaincy, lets see some serious selections and new blood, make the current mob earn their place or be relegated to district level where they belong.
-
Aunty Social :
29 Dec 2010 10:36:25am
"His eight innings this summer netting 113 runs at 16.1."
51 of the 113 was in the second innings at the Gabba on an absolute belter when the draw was a foregone conclusion.
16.1 is flattering. The average for the other seven innings is 8.9.
As far as spinners go, Ricky has been the best spinner in the side for some time. After repeated defeats and failures he has sat at press conferences and span the line that the team can "take a few positives from the performance". He has done the phrase to death.
There's no doubt he has a massive ego, as expected in a sportsman of his calibre, but I believe Ponting has been selfish for not stepping down sooner, and Cricket Australia has been foolish in not relieving Ponting of the captaincy before the last tour of India, well in advance of the current Ashes series and allowing him to concentrate on what he was at that time, i.e. one of the best No 3's in the world.
Ponting has struggled as captain since the retirements of 2007. Prior to that I don't think he had to be a true captain with so much available talent in the side. The field placements in Adelaide recently would be an example of which I speak. If he had told Thommo or Lillee he would set their fields for them he wouldn't have a head on his shoulders, and I can hear Warne saying something like, "When you can bowl a Gatting ball, then tell me what I should be bowling to a batsman. Until then (insert the explative of your choice)!!!"
The time has passed to swing the axe. Even if it were to swing the heir apparent is in no state to ascend to the top job. The only thing that may save Ponting is Clarke's atrocious form.
It is of his own doing that while he may be remembered for some great batting and slips catches, Ponting I fear will be forever enshrined in the record books as the first Australian skipper to lose three Ashes series. -
Chudley :
29 Dec 2010 10:37:55am
We,ve been waiting years for this, what did you expect when Warne and Mcgrath retired? you can now see what your captain is made of without those two to throw the ball at. I think he has come up short.
-
whitedog :
29 Dec 2010 10:42:37am
The problem is not Pontings form but the 20/20 techniques of the B grade players (hughes, clarke, the bowlers). REPLACE THEM, PUT IN A NEW GENERATION (UNDER 19'S), AND BE PATIENT.
-
justamug :
29 Dec 2010 10:45:13am
Simple solutions,firstly sack & replace (2 yr term) by public vote all current selectors & administrators,new board to appoint Warnie as coach/selector,new opener,Hughes,Ponting(c)down the order,Hauritz spinner and then the rest on current stats.AND finally start developing/motivating the NEW generation of YOUTH by completely reengineering the OLD system.
-
Trumper Lives :
29 Dec 2010 10:49:01am
There are cricket bloggers and cricket writers. Mitchell, you are the former; that was an appalling piece.
-
cherie :
29 Dec 2010 11:02:07am
Why can't the 12th man bat?
-
Nippy1 :
29 Dec 2010 11:04:26am
With Australia certain to be all out by lunch on Day 4, I just wonder what words of sage wisdom Ponting is busy jotting down into his notebook about another humiliating defeat. Even Ponting must begin to realise how meaningless his usual phrase of "runs are just around the corner" has become. Time to go Ricky. And take Clarke with you.
-
Oldbugger :
29 Dec 2010 11:05:45am
That'd be right. All you armchair experts who have probably never played any more than pre-school hit the ball if you can have decided that the captain must go. It's OK when they win but the moment that they lose a game, it's out you go.
The other thing is to keep bloody idiots like Warne away from the game. He had his chance and effed it up badly. You really only need to look at the Broncos to see what happens when the so-called experts decide that somebody must be sacrificed, from the top of the pile to the bottom in one easy lesson. At the end of the day somebody must come second and it doesn't really matter if you lose a game every now and then.
Regards -
David :
29 Dec 2010 11:06:13am
It's time to blood some players for the future. Looking at the 1st class batting averages this summer, I reckon Usman Khawaja is a must at 3. Shaun Marsh would be worth another look, and Mark Cosgrove's time has finally come. I know he doesn't look very fit, but I recall one David Boon as a pretty handy test cricketer. We need batsmen with fortitude and resilience, not show ponies who make 15-20 runs per innings.
-
Michael :
29 Dec 2010 11:18:26am
Glenn,
A great synopsis. Unfortunately, we have not given enough credit to the ECB for having a long term plan to get to the point where the Ashes could be retained on Australian soil. It began with the recruitment of Rod Marsh to set up the English cricket academy and we saw some of the fruits of this with the last Ashes in the UK and the employment of T -
PeterT :
29 Dec 2010 11:21:01am
Apart from being captain of my primary school B team many years ago, my experience and knowledge of cricket is pretty minimal. Coming from this position can someone please advise me whether my assessment of Mitchell Johnson's bowling has any merit.
He seems to have little control of where the ball goes compared to Lillee and McGrath who seemed to be able to bowl line and length with enough pace to keep the batsmen under pressure. Johnson seems mostly to spray the ball all over the place, possibly because of his roundhouse action. It seems to me the main reason batsmen lose their wicket is they lose patience, composure, concentration and judgement on which loose ball is playable.
This might be a good technique and style of bowling for one day and 20/20 cricket where the batsman needs to hit every ball. It, however, doesn't seem to suit the 5 day game where the skilled batsman can simply wait for the right ball. There is little pressure from inaccurate bowling and no good line and length where the wickets seem to actually figure in the bowler's fields of concern and influence.
Are our genuine quick heroes involved in training real contenders for glory?
I've had to turn off the cricket so many times this summer and the cry of "Kill the Poms; grind them into the turf!" has been strangled in a very uneasy feeling at the back of my throat. -
Dominic :
29 Dec 2010 11:24:36am
Why is the coach escaping critical scrutiny? What is Tim Nielsen’s coaching record since he took over in 2007? Not too crash hot I suspect. In any other sport would a coach survive so long with such a dismal record? Usually the first to go!
-
Misha :
29 Dec 2010 11:26:31am
Half the current Aussie team needs to go...and the whole selection panel and its selecting process clearly needs a massive overhaul
-
Belly :
29 Dec 2010 11:28:34am
We have not lost the series yet.ACB needs to cop a bit of flack.Seems like there is no progression plan.Our current players have all attempted to do their best.Bowlers win test matches and we have been completely out bowled.Do not jump on the media band wagon and become espouses of totally negative comments.We have been in this position before and have turned it around.Now is the time to support our cricketers.
-
jeremy :
29 Dec 2010 11:31:34am
My Team for Sydney:
Ian Redpath (c)
Rik McCosker
Kim Hughes
Alan Border
Greg Chappell
Ian Chappell
Ian Healy
Shane Warne
Glen McGrath
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thompson -
The Jaffa :
29 Dec 2010 11:34:31am
Am I right in my understanding that the squad is in fact a limited group of "contracted players". If so this must restrict the choices of the selectors (who also would have decided who got a contract), So if I am right dump the contracts, select on merit and be willing to accept that one can not always win, this is a game to be enjoyed for its quality more than just its outcome.
-
Serenity_Gate :
29 Dec 2010 11:35:18am
Here's an idea
Remember when the one day finals were Australia vs Australia A???
Let's try this again for four day matches
Test team plays Australia A
If a player in Australia A plays better than the test player opposite (i.e. opener, number three, etc). Swap them. Obviously the Oz A player is playing against the test bowlers and the Test player is against the lesser bowlers.
This would put the cat amonst the pigeons (no pun Glen Mc)
This would give everyone an idea of the current Shield players's skills.
In the "good old days", a touring team played most of the shield teams in prepration. That gave shield players a chance to shoulder their way into the test team, i.e. Rick McCoster after the test opener failed a few times.
Remember who were in those Australia A teams? Okay, some didn't make it into the test team, but a lot did.
David Boon was thrown into the test team at the age of 19 (I think) and was given time to settle in, not thrown out of the team because he didn't make many runs at first.
P.s. Ponting has never been a good captain, just blessed at first with great players.
We seem to have selectors who won't give players a chance or move them in the batting order.
Back to the old days when they dropped Don Bradman after his first test!-
Julie :
29 Dec 2010 12:25:20pm
Slightly away from the topic Channel Nine also need to revamp that old boys commentary box. I don't care how good a cricketer Warne was. He is not a commentator. All he does is wax even more lyrical about 'Malbourne' and 'Victawya' than Bill Lawry. Apart from Benaud, Chappell & Nicholas the rest of them just pat each other & the dismal Australians on the back & like many posters here refuse to accept that England were the better team. You can say 'dump the coach & selectors' all you like. They weren't the ones who failed. The entire old boys backslapping 'mates' culture within the team needs to go, not the selectors.
Ponting represents the John Howard era of nasty, ugly jingoism. His time is up. I would give Brad Haddin the captaincy. I see nothing wrong with a wicketkeeper being captain.
-
-
Stephen :
29 Dec 2010 11:57:40am
Selectors need to take off their NSW orientated glasses. I still can not understand how Smith was picked.
-
Paladin :
29 Dec 2010 11:59:13am
A few years ago, we had arguably two test teams. Where has the talent gone? I blame Tubby Taylor in part for not backing Australia playing against Aus A, not only one day but in 4 and 5 day games. Pick those in form for the test side.
1. There are different forms of the game and the powers to be apparently took the option to slot different players into the three different forms of the game. If that's what the paying public want so be it. I believe this is the biggest factor that has been to the detriment of test cricket.
a) in the types of wicket preparation, where quick scoring is called for.
b) Test players were also picked into the different forms.
Now we have Watson, obviously a one day opener, lacking the basic skill of hanging around, but rather seeing a quick run is necessary on two occasions,(when it isnt) running out the other opener exposing Ponting and the middle order too early. A test openers job is to stay there. Just stay there. If runs come along it's a bonus. Wear out the bowlers and get the shine off the new ball, just stay there. The batting coach Langer said on ABC radio he tells people to play their natural game. No way!!! The natural game of most players now, because of the other forms of the game, is to attack and that's what we have seen.
Ponting is suddenly out of form,as happens with all players, but with not enough batting behind him to cover for him, and he then gets more heat put on him.
Yet for years really, its been the lower order (wicket keepers and bowlers) who have pulled us out of the batting collapses giving us high scores. Scores that covered things like, for example Johnson's lack of direction, a weaker spinning attack and the top order being out of form.
That was when the warning bells should have rung with the selectors and administrators. Its taken the loss of the Ashes again, to wake many commentators up also.
Do we want to be competative at test level again?
Then we have to develop test players again. Fancy it being England who came prepared for tests, and then to prepare to our conditions, while we were in India!! then we came back to play 20/20. We need Grafters. Batsmen who can let the balls pass. England have done it, why cant we? -
Matt :
29 Dec 2010 12:09:52pm
Is it possible that we could see both Hauritz and Beer in the team now that Harris is out of the picture for Sydney?
-
peter of mitcham :
29 Dec 2010 12:16:32pm
OK give punter the flick but Hilditch should go first. Cameron White should come straight in as captain. Gone should be Hughes, Clarke, Johnson, Hilfenhaus. Agree Glenn ... for heaven's sake try something
-
Jimmy :
29 Dec 2010 12:17:23pm
Back to FIRST PRINCIPLES and follow the leader, Sir Bradman. Each batsmen practices against a water tank for 16 hours a day!
-
hannah :
29 Dec 2010 12:20:01pm
In my humble opinion the players of Hayden, Langer,Gilcrist, Lee,Warne and McGrath won the matches for Australia I don't think Ricky is Captain material, he should concentrate on his batting (if he is given the time) and another captain chosen.
-
steve :
29 Dec 2010 12:24:14pm
We need to get back to basics. Push cricket in the schools and encourage our athletes to get in it. Forget Fifa - we are not a soccer nation first and foremost and all these new sports are taking talent and funding away from our traditional sports. This is a matter of national concern.
-
Theo Mackaay :
29 Dec 2010 12:30:39pm
Dear Glenn.
Please do not join the chorus which elevates sport to matters of life and death. "Dead man walking" is utterly inappropriate language to use about a game, no matter how important.
You do yourself and the community a disservice when you engage in this sort of hyperbole. There are issues of life and death to write about in this world, but sport is not among them.-
Trumper Lives :
29 Dec 2010 1:21:08pm
Theo Mackaay is spot on in his criticism of Mitchell. One of our problems as a society is that we take sport too seriously and life not serious enough. The use of Roosevelt's Depression era speech as well as the appalling title of your blog points to the fact that the commentators such as Mitchell need to get some perspective. in the words of CLR James "What do they know of cricket who cricket know."
-
-
ray clarke :
29 Dec 2010 12:35:12pm
The English Players have outperformed in this series in Australia both with bat, and ball. We were able to recover from the 1970 English Tour in Australia where John Snow was able to wreak havoc with the ball. The sacking of Bill Lawry as Captain did not resolve the series loss. Therefore blaming Ponting alone is ridiculously incorrect. He is at best only one player out of a team of eleven. The Australian attack lacks variation. There is no Richie Benaud, Bobby Simpson or Shane Warne. The reliance on quicks has not been the answer. We will fight on as usual as Australia is never down for long periods of time as history can tell us so.
-
Anthony Ingate :
29 Dec 2010 12:43:22pm
I agree totally with Glenn's assessment.
Its one thing to be defeated. We have to take our medicine. As an Aussie I can live with defeat, if that defeat is one where we go down fighting, trying to take as much dignity away from a loss as we can. But this was a shameful effort. There was no rearguard action. The day 3 capitulation was worse than our first innings effort.
Some really bad decisions in the management of this team have been exposed. Who was the bright spark who decided to take potentially the best #6 all rounder (Watson) and turn him into an opener?
Why is Clarke apparently not subject to the same selection pressure as North and Hussey seem to always be?
Its time to make the tough calls, certainly. -
jax :
29 Dec 2010 12:45:31pm
Got to lose Ponting and Clark. Neither of them have the field sense needed for a captain. Also need to lose a bunch of selectors who are more about mates than form. We also need to consider our grass roots, not just who looks cute in a 20-20 uniform. Ponting did well why he had people like McGrath for company as he had the killer instinct when it came to field placement. Ponting and Clark do not and never have had! Clark has always seemed more enthusiastic about chasing tabloid headlines than focusing on his game, and has never demonstrated the maturity to become captain. Ponting was a great batsman until he was given the added responsibility of captain which he was never up to.
-
Jezza :
29 Dec 2010 12:46:13pm
Australia's rise to cricket domination coincided with the the establishment of the cricket academy in Adelaide in the late 80's. Three blokes I know who came through at that time Ponting, Warne and McGrath benefited from its existence. CA then decided to move it to Brisbane. In my opinion this was a bad move. Adelaide is an easy city to traverse and the climate is perfect summer and winter to develop players. You could even have a camp in Darwin June, July and Aug for those not playing league or county. Bring the academy back to Adelaide, make Rod Marsh the chief again or Adam Gilcrist and filter these kids though SA's district comp and shield side if need be. Stuart Law and Michael Beven benefited from playing in Adelaide. Brisbane is two hot and hard to get around. What happened to Chester Bennett anyway. Oh and we need a big funnel, more talent identification people on the ground and better coaching at under 11 level. Some of the crap being extolled to children at this level by so called qualified coaches is unbelievable. If only Bob Woolmer was still alive?
-
loadedm164me :
29 Dec 2010 12:47:54pm
Drop Ponting down the order and sack the selectors.
Remember Ponting is one of the best players Australia has produced, we Australians have short memories get off his back. -
Henry Adams :
29 Dec 2010 12:48:02pm
Not only does the team need new faces, the selectors need replacing in particular Hildich who has presided over this disaster. He is as successful as a selector as he was as a player, average at best.
Sack Ponting ,Clarke, make Haddon captain, pick a young team, find a decent coach (on results the current one doesn't cut it), give them time to develop.
Time for action not handwringing. -
Andrew :
29 Dec 2010 12:54:14pm
Phil Hughes - must be dumped immediately. should never have been selected in the first place, form did not warrant it.
Shane Watson - has done enough as opener to stay there
Ricky Ponting - must drop down the order but should retain the captaincy. He has a tough job with no Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden, McGrath or Langer to help out.
Michael Clark - needs to be dropped, not convinced that he is the best choice as the next captain.
Mike Hussey - the only shining light, should keep his spot but needs to retire soon.
Steve Smith - too much expectation on his shoulders, needs to be in the side either as a batsman or as a bowler - but too young to expect both.
Brad Haddin - had a pretty good series and really hasn't done much wrong.
Mitchell Johnson - nowhere near good enough. should not be considered at all.
Peter Siddle - has generally been OK, toiled hard for little result.
Ben Hilfenhaus - hasnt done anything with the ball, should be dropped.
Ryan Harris - obviously still with knee issues and should be dropped -
Really :
29 Dec 2010 1:20:17pm
Just a thought on the selectors - how many of the current selectors played in the last Australian team to lose an Ashes Series on Australian soil?
-
polony :
29 Dec 2010 1:34:03pm
Problem: Our cricketers are no longer good at test cricket.
Pajama cricket does not require 20 wickets to win a match and does not require batsmen to stay in for over a session - making it inadequate.
A small step towards a solution: Make Sheffield Shield matches 5 days.
This will enable our selectors to better see how players perform in real cricket, provide training and require the demonstration of now rarely seen skills such as leaving balls and taking wickets. -
Sonny Winter :
29 Dec 2010 1:35:27pm
Nielsen has been fairly critcised here, but don't forget we also have a batting coach who has, it must be said, failed lamentably in his brief. Langer may have a you-beauty Australia commitment and he might be outstanding with the team song and the mateship business, but the performances of his charges have been the worst that I can remember from an Oz batting side since ... well, I can't remember since when.
-
Andrew :
29 Dec 2010 1:35:37pm
I can't believe the number of times the commentators mentioned the fact that the whole team was out of form bar one or two. Why are they even picked for the most coveted series that is the Ashes?
-
Tim Apelt :
29 Dec 2010 1:44:57pm
If the truth be known we just don't have many good test cricketers and the Sheffield Shield is not turning up many stars.
The states need to retire some of their older players earlier - This would be tough but it is Australia's best interest.
I am not looking forward to the one dayers or T20s. We are also short of quality players in these forms of the game. -
david r :
29 Dec 2010 1:56:30pm
Blame the selectors and the coaching team plus too much time spent playing one day cricket rather than Ponting!
I also think the selectors should try to choose batsman around 25-27 years old who have had some experience at first class level. Cameron White, Shaun Marsh and Callum Ferguson come to mind. Phil Hughes and Steve Smith are still very young and can wait a couple more years before they take their place in the team. -
Elsternwick Eric :
29 Dec 2010 2:05:09pm
I think we should sack everybody in Australia. It's everyone's fault the Australian cricket finds itself at such a low ebb. Sack the players, they clearly cannot play the game at the highest standard. This must surely be a failure of the coaches and the support staff, so sack them too. Those preparing the pitches have obviously failed to produce decks sufficiently advantageous to our team and they're for the chop too. Time to get competent pitch doctors in. The 5th estate have obviously failed to adequately scrutinize Cricket Australia and the teams demise has taken place on their watch. We need a new batch of competent journalists and pundits who will not let such a slide happen under their very noses. And what of the fans? How quickly these turncoats abandon a sinking ship. How pathetic are our chants compared to the English. Time to sack the fans and get a new bunch who have the stamina for the journey. Also, the people making coffee's at the MCG should be sacked. My coffee on Monday had a very poor standard of latte art, barely recognisable as a fern leaf. This sort of sloppiness flows right down to the team. If we take these measures, and we hire the English cricket team and support staff as the Australian team (they after all hired them from South Africa and Australia) we will see instant results.
-
Peter :
29 Dec 2010 2:08:53pm
The most important fact everyone is missing is that Shane Watson is not an opener.
-
Asceptic :
29 Dec 2010 2:14:24pm
24 Years was a good run by any standards.
Personally I think this makes the game more interesting.
Search ABC News
News Just In
- Somare returns as PNG prime minister
- Gbagbo offered protection to step down
- Search suspended for boy missing in floodwaters
- Police out in force to stop flood looters
- Cold snap strains South Korean power
- NZ mine bodies unlikely to be recovered
- Hussey in doubt for World Cup
- Norfolk Island spared cyclone's wrath
- Gillard urges businesses to dig deeper
- Black Keys cancel BDO gig
- Man attacked with swordfish skeleton
- Soldier on life support after assault
ABC Analysis
- State of crisis: a politician in a disaster zone
- Toowoomba floods a joke no more
- Is soccer Australia's last sporting hope?
- US Congress: get used to dramatics
- The year that was in US politics
- Ponting a dead man walking
- Obama's victory lap
- Nuclear memories and a Merry Christmas
- TV the real business of the NBN
- Well-readhead: My favourite books of 2010
- Rushing to judgment in the face of tragedy
- Rudd stung by the WikiLeaks whip