Punter - how long will he last?

[Johnson#26]

How much longer can Punter chug on for? Not just as skipper, but in the Aussie side full stop. Should he retire from T20s? Or even ODIs? How far down the track can he go?

[davey_magik]

I think he will retire at the end of the 2011 WC.

I would have said the next Ashes series, but the WC is a few months after that.

[Costanza_]

I reckon he'll retire after the 2010/11 Ashes, hopefully after another 5-0 thumping.

[Carlton Villa]

Depends on his form this summer. He is a proud man and wouldn't want to be sacked. That said, i am sure revenge will be burning at him so i would expect a superb summer from him.

[jozeph]

Surprised he hasn't been sacked already, worst Australian captain since Graham Yallop.

[Caesar]

The two are synonymous, he won't pass on the captaincy and remain in the side.

Most likely scenario is as mentioned - he'll retire from Tests after the Ashes, and completely after the WC. I suspect he'll be phased out of the T20 squad after next year's World T20 Championship, he's already being rested half the time from these matches.

Honestly can't see him playing on until we tour England again in 2013, which is the only reason he'd want to hang on after the World Cup.

[Caesar]

Surprised he hasn't been sacked already, worst Australian captain since Graham Yallop.
He's pretty damn ordinary, but kind of a TINA candidate. Do you really think Clarke is going to be any better?

[ROO BOY IN W.A]

My only worry is who can take over the captaincy.I just hope he stays and guides the young guys for the next few years.

[EddieBetts]

Why doesn't Ricky Ponting get the respect he deserves? The bloke is a champion Cricketer and a good captain. His winning record is just behind Steve Waugh, and while he has had the luxury of Warne and McGrath in the initial years of his captaincy, he hasn't their services for 2 and a half years now. We are in a rebuilding phase and we have to be patient. Ponting is revered by his team mates and is clearly the best option at this point in time.

I think it is disgraceful that Ponting isn't recognised as the 3rd best Cricketer this country has produced behind Bradman and Warne.

[crownie]

Why doesn't Ricky Ponting get the respect he deserves? The bloke is a champion Cricketer and a good captain. His winning record is just behind Steve Waugh, and while he has had the luxury of Warne and McGrath in the initial years of his captaincy, he hasn't their services for 2 and a half years now. We are in a rebuilding phase and we have to be patient. Ponting is revered by his team mates and is clearly the best option at this point in time.

I think it is disgraceful that Ponting isn't recognised as the 3rd best Cricketer this country has produced behind Bradman and Warne.

Aussie fans never like accepting being beaten by a better side.

When Taylor/Border was captain we wern't expected to win every game, Waugh had one of the best teams ever and Ponting was in charge as the team has declined back to earth.

his the perfect scapegaot.

[Belnakor]

he should play on until the 2013 ashes.

[bigburger]

He's pretty damn ordinary, but kind of a TINA candidate. Do you really think Clarke is going to be any better?

Thats what I am always worried about. As much as I think Ponting is a shit captain theres no one to replace him besides Simon Katich who is too old now. I don't really want to see Clarke as Captain but I think it will have to be him.

[belfast_bomber]

Surprised he hasn't been sacked already, worst Australian captain since Graham Yallop.

http://www.flintoffsashes.com/wp-content/uploads/kim-hughes.jpg

And we haven't HAD any bad captains since then. No shame in that.

[hamG]

I want him to have two or three years of NOT being captain and focusing 100% on batting. No media shit, no adds, no worrying, he is probably the last once-in-a-generation cricketer we have for the time being. He is not a brilliant captain by any stretch, the team would not be worse if someone else ran the show and he scored more damn centuries and didn't have the whole nation on his shoulders.

[bigburger]

I want him to have two or three years of NOT being captain and focusing 100% on batting. No media shit, no adds, no worrying, he is probably the last once-in-a-generation cricketer we have for the time being. He is not a brilliant captain by any stretch, the team would not be worse if someone else ran the show and he scored more damn centuries and didn't have the whole nation on his shoulders.
I would also love to see this but once again whose going to replace him?

[hamG]

I would also love to see this but once again whose going to replace him?

Clarke has been groomed for years so its going to be him, he is no less capable than Ponting and honestly I have seen a bit when he runs the one day side that makes me think he has a great cricket brain, I have not heard many other people say this though. Hussey could have done it prior to his failings with the bat.

Huge dark horse for Haddin - a bit of an unknown and also the only other player in the side who is guaranteed a spot in the test team :cool:

[holybishop]

I want him to have two or three years of NOT being captain and focusing 100% on batting. No media shit, no adds, no worrying, he is probably the last once-in-a-generation cricketer we have for the time being. He is not a brilliant captain by any stretch, the team would not be worse if someone else ran the show and he scored more damn centuries and didn't have the whole nation on his shoulders.

Ponting has too much pride to not be captain and still be in the side. IMO, he'll continue to be captain till he's sacked from that position, in which case he'll retire immediately. While I dont necessarily want to see Ponting the batsman go, as he really is one of the worlds best, Ponting the captain should go. His captaincy figures flatter him as he had the likes of Hayden, Langer, Martyn and Gilly in the batting and McGrath, Warne, Dizzy and Lee heading the bowling attack. Such a dominant side like that you barely need a captain as the batters do their own thing while the bowlers literally set their own field. With those players gone and Australia looking like a shadow of what it once was, Ponting's captaincy is starting to wane as he has to step up to 'lead' the youngsters. Too defensive with field placements and poor over rate is by far the biggest critisism, as well as being confrontational with the umpires on more than one occassion.

It's a new era in Australian cricket. And a new era required new leadership, both on and off the field. And if that means losing Ponting the batsman, then so be it if that means Australian cricket can move forward.

As for next captain, it's got to be between Clarke, North or Katich. IMO Clarke doesnt have 'guts' and will be more conservative than Ponting. Dunno how Clarke would react though if he DOESNT get it, as he seemed to be the heir to the throne for years now. Katich would make a fine captain but is far too old and Australia will be looking for a new captain far too soon. North is a smokie is my mind. Hasnt been in the side for long, but he's impressed me so far. He just seems to fit straight into the international scene with his professionalism. He already captains WA. He's got the leadership ability.

[pluga_4]

ponting has suggested in the past that the 10/11 ashes series may well be it and the 2011 world cup (which is 19 months away).

he said the other day he may return to england in 2013 now so who knows. i think that was said in the spur of the moment.

i'd like to see him retire from odi's in the 2011 world cup and play tests until the 11/12 summer as there is a fair bit of test cricket for the aussies in 2011
(3 more home summers).

the next test captain may well depend on how long ponting plays for.
time may well pass clarke by or he could be a short term captain if ponting plays on for a while.

[krusden]

My only worry is who can take over the captaincy.I just hope he stays and guides the young guys for the next few years.

yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If punter chucks the captaincy in and say quit test cricket altogether then pup would most likely be appointed captain of a ridiculously inexperienced side.

and we have seen how much a captain relies on his lieutenants. punter is lost without warney at second slip. How would pup be without punter there?

so the selectors MUST be sucking up to ponting to stay and help pup and the young blokes.

Maybe ricky will make the 2013 ashes as a player?

[roostersgal4eva]

He should stay as a batsman but allow clarke to be captain

[swansrule100]

should be his spot til he says otherwise, too quick to push people out sometimes.

Let him go take it easy at number 5.

[Belnakor]

I don't get why people want Clarke as captain? What would Clarke do that Punter hasn't? Seriously, he has been VC for how many years?

Punter could perhaps push down the order to number 4, and Clarke at no3. But lower wouldn't make much sense.