Ponting won't retire after Ashes: Hilditch
Australian chief selector, Andrew Hilditch has announced that Australian captain Ricky Ponting will not put down his papers after this year’s Ashes against England. The chief selector also added that he hoped that Ponting could continue to maintain the same hunger that he has currently, after the Ashes as well.
Australia had lost the previous edition of the Ashes in England, and Ponting has long said that he will not only want to regain the Ashes back this year, but also lead his side in England in 2013 for the next series.
Even Hilditch seems to support Ponting when he said that the Australian captain would not be thinking of retirement currently. Hilditch added that for now, he expects Ponting to concentrate solely on winning back the Ashes this year and take it from there.
The problem that Ponting seems to be facing is with his batting, which has been exposed by many bowlers. He was hit by Kemar Roach on his helmet in a 2009 Perth Test match and in 2007, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566 had bowled a spell at the same ground that had the Australian captain hopping. He also averages less than 41 since losing to England in the Ashes last year, and that compares unfavourably to his career average of 55.
It is hard to believe Ponting will continue if he can't recapture his elite standards, and a farewell involving the Ashes and the World Cup could be enticing. One thing Ponting won't do in the meantime is back down, from pulling early in his innings or demoting himself in the order.
The other question that the media and the experts seem to be asking is about his batting position. Ponting has batted at the number three position for most part of his career, and has been very successful there as well. However, with the runs beginning to dry, there have been suggestions of getting Michael Clarke to bat higher up. Earlier, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
However, Hilditch said, “I'd be expecting him to play out his career at No.3”
The first Ashes Test match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and England begins from 25 November this year.
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