http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 dropped for the remainder of the CB series– Cricket News Update
Ricky Ponting, the former Aussie skipper and recent stand-in captain for the injured http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978, has been dropped from the ODI squad, following his below par batting performances in the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series.
Ponting has struggled in the last five games and his single-digit scores (2, 1, 6, 2 and 7), bear testimony to what arguably remains his worst batting slump of an otherwise illustrious career.
Following two consecutive defeats against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, the substitute skipper found himself in a tough spot, as he struggled to defend himself, saying he was working to turn around his mediocre form, and was well-aware that the selectors could not
retain him in the squad on the basis of reputation alone.
Aussie head coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mickey-Arthur-c1969 also expressed concern for the 37-year-old, saying he seemed “jaded”, and needed to turn his performances around. However, Ponting was unable to shine in the last match against India on February 19 – dismissed for a meagre
7, despite the eventual 110-run win his team was able to achieve.
The right-hand batsman insisted that he was available for selection for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s upcoming game against Sri Lanka this Friday, but the national selection panel dropped the (somewhat expected) bomb today, on February 20, releasing an official statement
which confirmed that the veteran had been dropped from the ODI squad for the remaining matches of the ongoing tri-series.
"The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport," chief selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Robert-John-Inverarity-c85980, said. "Ricky's record speaks for itself. He is one
of the truly great performers in the history of Australian ODI cricket, with his reputation enhanced further by him captaining Australia to two World Cup victories.”
He went on to praise the veteran batsman for his commitment to the team, and pointed out that the former skipper was highly respected by all his teammates, due to his positive attitude.
The selection panel did not name a new stand-in captain in a bid to see http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 resuming his duties for the team’s next clash.
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