Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, Michael Clarke appreciates his captain’s guidance
Ricky Ponting is the finest Test captain in cricketing history and is not afraid to give away big captaincy secrets to fellow-countryman Michael Clarke. Veteran batsman and captain, Ponting, has a lot to give because of his valuable experience in the international cricketing arena. Young vice-captain, Michael Clarke, has closely followed the batting of the veteran since his advent in the Aussie playing eleven.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ricky-Thomas-Ponting-c85411, is a specialist right-handed batsman and has dominated World-class bowlers with his batting power. The veteran made his debut in international cricket in 1995, besides the few times, he has been in and out of his national side, the master blaster batsman was able to cement a permanent position in the Aussie competitive side.
Captaining the Australian national team since early-2002, he has the honour of winning several awards and tournaments and also holds many records. Normally great cricketers do not take the post of captaincy as they do not want to risk their performance. Ponting has an impressive average of 54.83, nearing the 12,000 test run mark, and he has played 145 Test matches. The veteran has 39 Test centuries just behind Indian master blaster batsman, Sachin Tendulkar. Ponting has played a staggering 351 One-Day Internationals (ODI)’s , scoring over 13,000 runs at an average of 42.85, including 29 match winning centuries.
On the other hand, the veteran’s vice-captain, Clarke made his debut in 2004, and in just 7 years of international cricket, he is vice-captain in one of the best teams of the world. Clarke has over 4,000 runs after just 59 matches and a batting average of 51.61 in Test cricket. Likewise his credentials in ODI’s have been outstanding as well, as young Clarke has scored over 5,000 runs in 173 matches at an average of 42.31. Clarke, also, has a handful of 52 wickets to his name in the 50-over format of the game.Clarke has had an opportunity to observe his veteran captain for a couple of months now, and has witnessed Ponting working his way to an average of 54.66 runs since the 2006-7 Ashes Series.
Normally, elite level batsmen have the tendency to off during smaller and easier teams. But not Ponting’s playing eleven. It is strange for the veteran standards to ease off in intensity during smaller matches or series.
Ponting believes, “"Last year for me Test-wise is one of those years where I look back and almost write it off, I think I got run out three times, got caught at bat-pad three times. I am working as hard as I have ever worked, if I am averaging 54 now I have to push that up again, up to a level I know I am capable of playing at. That's the great challenge for me".
The veteran is happier than ever batting at number 3, followed by Clarke, for whom it is lesser responsibility to play under Ponting. The veteran skipper believes that it is not his ego that plays on his mind when I am going into the field, as the master blaster batsman is happy to come in at no. 3 where he feels comfortable to play.
Clarke believes, “When I was younger where I batted was probably more important to me but now it doesn't bother me, It's about whatever Ricky thinks and best suits the team ... I am not really stressed about it. I am pretty carefree about wherever I bat and I am going to play the way I want to play, I am going to try and be as successful as I can”.
It is the mutual respect and level of confidence the two master blaster batsmen have towards each other. The next eight cricketing months excite the veteran captain. Clarke is confident that his fellow senior team-mate has a lot more cricket left in him. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 respects the cricketing sense and admires the batting of current skipper Ponting. It is yet to be seen how their cricketing combination will perform in the upcoming tours and series. But one thing is for sure, Australian cricket promises and provides class cricket.
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