http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 will miss Ricky as an opponent – Cricket News Update
Following their impressive triumph against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 by labelling him as one of the most respected opponents he has ever played against.
Ponting bid farewell to cricket during the recently concluded Perth Test, where the Proteas recorded an emphatic 309-run win to seal the series, and retain the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Test mace.
Having upstaged http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 to get the coveted crown in August this year, the tourists showed immense resilience to weather the Aussie threat in the opening two games, before cementing their authority at the WACA, courtesy an all round display.
A target of 632 always seemed out of reach, but the Proteas contingent showed their clinical self by swiftly claiming all 10 Australian wickets on the penultimate day of the Test match.
Despite their win, the match will always be remembered for Ponting – the great Australian warrior. Having been criticized for his form over the past 12 months, Punter devoted considerable time and energy to training ahead of his last home summer.
However, he failed to reproduce the goods with the bat in the three-match series, managing just 32 runs from five innings. Despite his cheap dismissal in his final international knock, he bowed out in style as one of the game’s most decorated players.
The Proteas players fittingly gave him a guard of honour as he walked onto the crease for one last time. His failures in the series had been forgotten, and a sense of mutual respect prevailed around the WACA, a ground where he started his international career.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598, who has shared an intense rivalry with Ponting over the years, was keen to heap praise on the Aussie legend.
"I just told him that he deserves everything that comes his way and he can be proud of what he's achieved," Smith said. "For me, it was run of mill, really, and was something that needed to be done.
"Having played against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ricardo-Gouveia-c84824 so much over the years, he's certainly a player I respect most as an opponent (in terms of) his intensity, the way he scores runs against us, he's always been so competitive against us.
"I think it was just a sign of respect from us to someone who's given the game of cricket so much.
"I think all of us will miss Ricky as an opponent and hopefully now he and I can catch up for a beer, I'm sure a few of us would love to do that.”
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