Quit before selectors axe you, John Benaud suggests Ricky Ponting – Cricket News Update
Former Australian captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377, is facing massive criticism these days, as he has not been producing anything impressive with the bat.
A few days ago, the West Indian bowling great, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kepler-Christoffel-Wessels-c71006, pushed Ponting to relinquish International cricket before the national selectors make any move against him.
Jumping onto the bandwagon, the former Australian selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Benaud-c67398, has said that it is the right time for Ponting to decide on his future and quit.
He made it clear that the veteran batsman should make up his mind about leaving national duties prior to any step against him by the selection committee.
Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 has recently named a new selection panel that is keen to make drastic changes to the setup to rebuild the side.
Hence, Ponting’s place in the crew is definitely at risk for the forthcoming crucial series against New Zealand and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
Benaud cited the second Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 as a huge occasion for Ponting, saying that the ex-skipper should consider retiring if he fails to hit a big innings in the series decider, to be played at Johannesburg later this week.
“If he is in terminal slide, you don’t want him playing against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in case he gets a couple of hundreds against someone who’s a bit weak and then gets in against some class again and it’s too much for him,” a leading daily quoted Benaud, as saying.
In the opening game at Cape Town, the 36-year-old batsman was ordinary with his batting, as he lost his wicket after collecting eight and a 12-ball duck in the first and second innings respectively.
Benaud maintained that following his excellent work over the years, Ponting should be given a chance to walk away before hurling him out of the sight.
“It would be sensible for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ricardo-Gouveia-c84824 to have a bit of a sit down and say to himself: ‘Is this going to end in tears or do I really, really have the talent that I had five years ago? I think the signs have been there a little while that he’s been struggling a
bit,” added the former Aussie cricketer who represented his country in three Tests.
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