Last roll of the dice for Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar – Opinion - Part 1
Having enthralled fans with their superlative batting prowess for more than two decades, in reality the upcoming cricket adventures for Australia’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Tendulkar-c2556 remain pivotal as they look to prove their doubters wrong by asserting
that age is just a number.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 will be keen to carry forward the momentum they built during Michael Clarke’s first full season in charge, where the team finished the 2011-12 cricketing calendar without suffering a single Test series’ defeat. India, on the other hand, will be
eager to make amends of the hammering they suffered during that period, which included two back to back away whitewashes, including one against the Aussies.
Their respective tasks; however, will not be easy given the stature of their opposition. The Aussies play host to the newly crowned South Africans, while the Men in Blue welcome http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 at their preferred home.
In order to be successful, they will need to play as a unit and more importantly, will look at the experienced personnel for some much-needed inspiration. When talking about knowledge and familiarity about the game, it is fair to say that no one comes remotely
close to Ponting and Tendulkar.
The Little Master is the leading run-getter in both formats, let alone Test, while Punter is the next in line. Both have been mainstays for their national teams but given the fast paced nature of cricket, and media, history tends to play little part.
Both have been criticized for lack of runs in recent times, and criticism at this stage of any player’s career tends to have fatal consequences. Punter has already been asked to focus on Test cricket, while Tendulkar has further played little limited-overs
cricket since the World Cup 2011.
While an analysis of their performances may lead to a theory that both men are well past their best, it is also accurate to say that their daunting statures exclude them from the category of players who will ever be dropped. The ultimate decision will be
made by the players themselves but whether they will be the best judge is a debate for another day.
For now, only runs will ensure that they remain in contention. The reality of the situation caught up with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 and it is time that Ponting and Tendulkar do the talking with the willow in their hand.
Punter has had the best of preparations and the extended time out of the limelight has already paid dividend where he has averaged well over hundred for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854 in the ongoing domestic season. Having worked on his game in the winter, Ponting himself admitted
that there will be no excuses as far as he’s concerned when he takes on the Proteas. He definitely feels fresher after taking part in his first full pre-season training since making his debut for the national team.
"You're definitely fresher but whether that means you're better off cricket-wise is another thing. Something so foreign to me is not playing cricket continually," he said. "One thing I do know is I've now got Test cricket only and only a few one-day games
for Tassie through the course of the year, so I've had a pretty clear picture of what my career looks like. That can't hurt. Also having a good break and some sort of pre-season for the first time in 20 years is a little bit foreign as well, but it's been
very enjoyable."
To be continued….
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