Warne throws support behind Ponting’s captaincy
Shane Warne has come out in support of Ricky Ponting’s captaincy of Australia’s Test team, just days after being caught in a media storm over comments he made over field settings in the second Test of the series between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 last week.
The controversy started, as things are apt to do in these days of social media and immediate interaction with the outside world, with a tweet.
“How the h**l can [off-spinner Nathan] hauritz bowl to this field?? Feeling for hauritz, terrible!! What are these tactics? Sorry Ricky [Ponting] but what are you doing,” said Shane Warne via his official Twitter page last week as Australia were heading towards a seven-wicket loss against India in Bangalore.
Cue the reports of a fractured relationship between the great leg-spinner and his former teammate, and current captain of Australia’s Test side, Ponting.
According to Warne though, the pair have been in touch via text message since he made those observations.
“Yes - Ricky was disappointed with my tweet and expressed his disappointment via SMS,” Warne said via his website. “As a captain, you are never going to get everything right or please everyone. Also, as a captain, you have to take full responsibility for the team - win, lose or draw.”
With two straight Ashes losses in England bookending Ponting’s captaincy of Australia’s 5-0 series whitewash of England down under in 2006/07, the outcome of this series is set to define Punter’s captaincy, one way or another, and a loss would in all likelihood bring his time at the helm to an end.
Still, despite those Twitter comments, and the fact Australia have been defeated in three of their last four Tests, Warne it seems has not lost faith in the 35-year-old as Australia’s skipper just yet.
“Ricky, to me, is the right man to lead Australia for the Ashes. It's a great opportunity for him to show his leadership and captaincy skills. He also looks in super touch with the bat; I am sure he's going to fill his boots this summer,” Warne wrote.
“This Ashes series is going to be the biggest of his and the Australian team’s career.”
Of that, there can be little doubt.
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