Ian Chappell advises Ricky Ponting to throw in the towel
The former Australian Test captain Ian Chappell has advised his compatriot and incumbent Test captain Ricky Ponting to take the initiative and resign before being pushed out of the team by the selectors. Ricky Ponting, who captained one of the most prolific
epochs of Australian cricket, is currently under distress as he moves closer to becoming the first Australian captain to lose three Ashes series. After the devastating loss at the hands of the visiting English side at Melbourne, it is now obvious that Ponting’s
days as a player and captain are numbered. Consequently, Chappell has advised Ponting to take the decision of retiring from cricket before the selectors axe him.
Ponting is well aware of his precarious position as he has recently accepted that he has a weak case to present to the selectors after the catastrophic Melbourne Test. Ponting is the only Australian captain to preside three unsuccessful Ashes campaigns after
Billy Murdoch of the late 19th century. In addition to this, Ponting’s form with the bat has also been quite miserable. He has scored only 113 runs in his last eight innings.
Commenting on the misery of the current Australian captain, Chappell said, “I've said all along that this should be the end of his Test captaincy reign. I think he should be given the opportunity to defend the World Cup as a captain, but I just hope he makes
the decision himself. I'd hate to see Ricky Ponting get pushed; I'd rather see him jump than be pushed.”
Despite his recent failings, Ponting is undoubtedly the most successful captain for his country. He has captained Australia to 48 victories in 77 Tests. Similarly, he has been a part of 99 victories as a player. However, most of those victories came during
the time when the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 dominated the cricket field. But after the retirements of the above mentioned legends, Australian team’s performance has been far from satisfactory. Such below par performances
have led to the dethroning of Aussies from the top spot in ICC Test rankings. Kangaroos have touched their lowest ebb with the defeat in Melbourne, their fifth in last seven Tests.
Commenting on it, Chappell said, “So, I hope he makes the decision and preferably he makes it himself, but if he doesn't I hope that Cricket Australia suggest to him that it might be better if you went of your own volition, rather than us having to push
you. I think he has been terrific, and he has probably delayed this day.”
Nevertheless, it is an inconvenient truth that Ponting has been in charge of the team which incurred most painful defeats of the last 15 years. But like a true Aussie, Ponting’s characteristic of ‘never-say-die’ enabled his team to grind some famous wins
such as the latest ICC Champions Trophy in what is termed as a gloomy period for Australian cricket. With the bat, he equals the likes of Tendulkar, Bradman and Lara.
He has scored mammoth 12,363 runs at an average of 53.51 in 152 Tests. “I think that has been delayed because of the form of Ricky Ponting, and the strength of Ricky Ponting as a captain,” Chappell said. “But there comes a time for all captains, there's
a use-by date, and when it's time to move on, it's about new players and a new captain. Sadly it's come on the end of a loss, but that's the way things work in sport.”
Ponting may have had trouble in winning the Ashes but he is also the only captain of recent era which concluded 5-0 Ashes win in 2006-07. But it is unfortunate that Ponting’s last Ashes campaign ends with a devastating loss and a broken finger. England’s
conquest of Melbourne is simply the final nail in the coffin of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s most successful captain.
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