Cricket Australia
Aussie deputy skipper Michael Clarke still believes that his old warhorse Ricky Ponting has enough firepower left to be counted amongst the best in the upcoming Ashes encounter. The class of the 35 year old and a veteran of 146 Tests have never been put into doubt, but his recent inability to fire against weaker opponents is a sure cause of worry.
The deputy has watched him play at the nets and is sure that ‘Punter’ will make a comeback prior to important upcoming outings against India, England and the 2011 World Cup. Problems from his naysayers started cropping when a man of Ponting’s stature with over 12000 Test runs averaged 24.5 against Pakistan in England, 34 against West Indies and 23 against New Zealand.
Tallying 685 runs in the last four series at an average of 40.05, things haven’t been going great for ‘Punter’. The only time when he broke free from his shackles and looked in his elements was when he amassed 209 against Pakistan, but only after being granted two lives by some sloppy Pakistani fielding.
Against a not so formidable Windies side Ponting got roughed up by pacer Kemar Roach as Roach troubled the Aussie skipper with the short ones. The worst was at WACA where after sensing blood when Roach exposed Ponting, every random Windies pacer made a bunny out of the Oz skipper.
In a recent outing with the media Ponting made sure that his poor string of scores with the willow had nothing to do with a loss of form, but it was just a matter of time when he’d come back to action. He also refused to step down from his position at number 3 and refused to term it as an ego issue.
The number four spot is taken by Clarke who other than being deputy skipper and a crucial prospect for the skipper’s reins is one of the next big thing in Australia’s test batting arsenal. Averaging a tad above 50 in 62 Tests, Clarke has been a mainstay in the middle order since his debut ton against India in 2004-05.
By: Soubhik Ray
Tags: Australia, Cricket, Cricket Australia, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Sports, Sports World, The Ashes, World Sports
