Ricky Ponting Appreciation Thread

[King Elvis]

It's an absolute disgrace that we don't have a Ricky Ponting Appreciation thread yet, but it's my pleasure and honour to start it.

The bloke is a dead set legend - bats in the hardest position in all forms of the game, never runs away from it. 11,000 runs to his name, will undoubtedly over take Lara, and quite possibly, Tendulkar - and is already arguably, in Australia, second only to Bradman.

Was always going to have the difficult task of handling the post Warne/McGrath/Langer/Gilly/Haydos/Martos era, and trying to avoid us falling over in a heap, and, to date, he's done it.

Losing the 05 Ashes is undoubtedly the biggest blot on his record - but also probably the best thing that could've happened to us; absolutely galvanised him, made him driven and obsessed with making sure we maintain our dominance. Could be argued that at times he was too ruthless and fixated on winning at all costs - but only skirts and flamers would sook about that.

Punter, I love you*

*no homo

 

[Southerntakeover]

Gun innings last night. You could tell early he had that steely look in his eyes, and was set for a tonne.

Two ashes series in a row hes set the tone by hitting a century in our first innings. Thats how you show leadership.

 

[courtjester]

And Rhiannon is looking luvvvverly in that cream low-cut top...

 

[Cotchin 9]

38 Test centuries says Hi.

 

[Arecsa]

Absolute champion. Never any doubt that he was going to come out last night and knock out yet another century.

 

[JacksDad]

Congratulations Ricky - 11,000 test runs, with the highest average of those players above 11,000 runs also.

Maybe a surprise retirement if we win this series?

 

[King Elvis]

Congratulations Ricky - 11,000 test runs, with the highest average of those players above 11,000 runs also.

Maybe a surprise retirement if we win this series?

....

Why?

His job isn't done yet.

 

[Respected Journo]

Congratulations Ricky - 11,000 test runs, with the highest average of those players above 11,000 runs also.

Maybe a surprise retirement if we win this series?

I hope not, otherwise we're ****ed.

 

[footycool]

he is the Swan of Cricket

 

[mansize rooster]

amazing record
we all knew he was gonna be special though when he put on that 96 on debut

 

[Santana]

Congratulations Ricky - 11,000 test runs, with the highest average of those players above 11,000 runs also.

Maybe a surprise retirement if we win this series?

I think he'll go until the next world cup at least imo.

 

[mcuzzy]

Awesome partnership with Katich..just awesome

 

[Respected Journo]

Wonder where those flogs are that said he should retire from ODI's?

 

[JacksDad]

....

Why?

His job isn't done yet.

What's left? Record chasing?

Dont get me wrong, I dont want him to retire.
Just a little gut feeling... Go out on top.

 

[picture in me pasta]

What's left? Record chasing?

Dont get me wrong, I dont want him to retire.
Just a little gut feeling... Go out on top.

No chance of him retiring. 2011 World Cup or the next Ashes series in Australia (I'm guessing early 2011?) will be his swansong and that's a conservative estimate.

 

[aaronm46]

Cant imagine our team without him. Countless times he sets up the series with a big score

 

[King Elvis]

What's left? Record chasing?

Dont get me wrong, I dont want him to retire.
Just a little gut feeling... Go out on top.

What's left?

Why does anybody play any sport?

For enjoyment, for the competition, and to test yourself against others.

Why would he retire?

As for what's left - we're still in a massive transitional period; he is the only real senior player in the side, and is the key to guiding us through the next couple of years.

 

[bus24]

Wonder where those flogs are that said he should retire from ODI's?

If it prolongs his Test career, then I hope he does at some point.

Questionable captaincy, but one of the greatest batsman in the history of the game.

So many great knocks, but more importantly, so many great knocks under pressure to set up games. I mean for quite a few years now, you expect him to come out in his first innings of a series, make a hundred, really put a marker down and send a message. Gun.

 

[stick]

Sadly the vast majority will not realise just how good this bloke is until he's hung up the boots and some other poor sod has to bat in the hardest spot in the order.

He will leave a hole bigger than Adelaide...

 

[Respected Journo]

If it prolongs his Test career, then I hope he does at some point.

Questionable captaincy, but one of the greatest batsman in the history of the game.

So many great knocks, but more importantly, so many great knocks under pressure to set up games. I mean for quite a few years now, you expect him to come out in his first innings of a series, make a hundred, really put a marker down and send a message. Gun.

I always have thought his been treated harshly in regards to the captainicy personally. But thats just my opinion, I have always felt that captainicy is somewhat over-rated, guys like Ian Chappell have always harped on about captainicy and I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard someone say "Ian Chappell wouldn't do that".

I just think it's very easy to captain from your couch. When Hilfenhaus was picked there was genuine surprise, even uproar in some blogs I read. Yet he was our best bowler and then all of a sudden people are screaming at Ponting to bowl him. These are the same people who said he shouldn't be playing and that we're ****ed if he is?

Pretty easy to captain in retrospect, I always find in amusing to read Roebuck's articles slating Ponting's captainicy, especially when Roebuck led England to defeat, against. ..... Holland.

 

[Wicked Lester]

Sadly the vast majority will not realise just how good this bloke is until he's hung up the boots and some other poor sod has to bat in the hardest spot in the order.

He will leave a hole bigger than Adelaide...

Couldn't agree more. In fact I've been saying much the same thing for years. Good number three's are hard to find, great number three's even more difficult and Ponting is right up there with the best ever.

The yardstick is to look at the many great batsmen who prefer not to bat at first drop; Tendulkar, Lara, Kallis, the Waugh's and the list goes on.

Like so many things, his greatness will be better apprecitated when he's gone. In the meantime enjoy it. I've never seen a batsman who imposes himself on series in the same way Ponting does. The number of times he's made centruries in the first innings of the first test of a series is astonishing.

 

[flight23]

great thread, it seemed to be cool to bag him, but **** that the guy is one of the greatest cricketers ever

 

[DaRick]

Well...he is a fantastic batsman. Undeniably world-class, he'd comfortably be in my Top 10, with the likes of Tendulkar, Lara and Chappell and slightly ahead of Lara (who was too inconsistent for mine). This innings, played when he isn't even at his peak, just reinforces that.

He is a world-class fielder - a product of the Australian academy, as seen by his athletic cover fielding and his stellar (although not flawless) work in the slips in recent times.

His captaincy is underrated, too. At times he has made some terrible calls (i.e - Edgbaston 2005), but many of his more embarrassing moments in the field came earlier on in his captaincy career. The way he has managed to lead sides to memorable away wins against seemingly better opposition (in South Africa) is worthy of note - something no Australian captain has done since Border's time. Taylor never had to, whilst a weakened Waugh side underperformed against India at home (2003/04). In terms of skill, he lacks Border's grit and Taylor's natural ability, but I'd place him ahead of Waugh, who neglected to develop any alternate plans at all.

 

[RooBoyz24]

G.U.N thats all i can say.To the people that said he is not a good captain eat yur words.Ricky well done and you always give yur all and im proud that your our Australian Captain.Keep up the good work.Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi.

 

[legend166]

Ponting is a legend.

He never gets credit when things are going right, but as soon as something goes wrong, it's all his fault. Ridiculous.