Mark Waugh urges Ponting's selection should be based on merit and not stature – Cricket News Update
Former Australian batsman, Mark Waugh, has urged the Australian selectors to select beleaguered Ricky Ponting on the basis of merit and not stature.
The 46-year-old former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 batsman agreed that Ricky Ponting had few credits in the bank and brings lot of experience in the team. However, he said that like any other player, the former Aussie skipper would have to perform if he wants to stay
on the roster.
"http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mark-Edward-Waugh-c74603 was quoted as saying by a leading Australian daily.
"I think he's invaluable with his experience...But his bottom line is, his job is to score runs. The experience he brings, you can't really count that. He's got to score runs," he added further.
The former Australian batsman, who played 128 Tests and 244 One Day Internationals for Australia during an illustrious career, said that the Tasmanian has not been at his best over the past 12 months. However, Waugh had some positives about from Australia’s
nail biting win at Johannesburg last week.
“I thought there were very good signs in the last Test in Johannesburg that he was getting back to somewhere near his best. But it's going to be up to him - if he makes runs, he can play for as long as he likes,” said the twin brother of former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-Rodger-Waugh-c91216.
The former right-handed batsman and an occasional right-arm medium pacer, said that Ponting still has something to give to the Aussies and International cricket, adding that the Tasmanian should be happy that he is still in the playing XI.
Mark Waugh also suggested a shuffle in the Australian batting order. The former New South Wales all-rounder wants prolific batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 to be dropped down from the opening slot to the middle-order, a move he reckons would give sustainability to the
Australian batting. Mark Waugh feels Watto should be sent at number four or five.
Australia is all set to open its 2011-12 season with a Test match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 at Gabaa, Brisbane on Thursday December 1, 2011.
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