Who will blink first? Ponting or Selectors

[Carbine Chaos]

Nobody chooses to retire anymore.

Well, that's not true.

 

[Badesumofu]

Personally, I would have ended Ponting's career 12 - 13 months ago (possibly sooner). I don't really see the relevance of his past feats of batting - selection has to be about the now and the future. This talk about 'credits' - you have credits when the quality of your past performances indicate that it's more likely than not that you'll regain form. The view that 'credits' entitle you to a place even when there is someone else more likely to make runs for Australia is extremely misguided in my opinion. When subscribers to that view invoke terms like 'respect' in order to denigrate their opponents in a discussion, I take it as a sign that they are simply unable to sustain a position that the player in question is actually the best selection available.

With all that said, I believe it was the right call to pick Ponting for the first test. If you were a selector looking over first class results to find a batsman, it'd be Ponting's name that stuck out. They will probably give him the series now, but if he doesn't score runs in that time, you'd have to seriously look at putting Khawaja in. He's making some runs again in the Shield, and I would back him to make some against Sri Lanka. He has talent and a good technique. Ponting and Hussey can't play forever, and it's not clear that Watson is going to be regularly available for selection. We will need to find some batsmen to go with Warner, Cowan and Clarke.

 

[amer]

His mind isn't here, it's in mid-2013. If he gets to the ashes the sheer will of the man will probably mean he has a good series. I think the selectors sense that and, together with nothing compelling from younger domestic batsmen, this is why he hasn't been tapped on the shoulder. A genuine ATG on a blood mission with literally nothing to lose would present an intimidating figure for England. As much as I cringe watching him fall around the place at the crease, I can see the old bastard doing something special when the urn is there again.

 

[Xtreme]

Bye Bye Ricky, you had a good run but now it's time to go

 

[Wickzki]

Let him break Waugh's record and send him on his way.

 

[Wickzki]

A genuine ATG on a blood mission with literally nothing to lose would present an intimidating figure for England. As much as I cringe watching him fall around the place at the crease, I can see the old bastard doing something special when the urn is there again.

Sounds like exactly what the English used to say when they put their old timers back in well past their used by date. Examples including Ian Botham, Mike Gatting, et al.

"Gatting's going to dominate the younger Aussie bowlers..."

"Despite his age, Botham's still the best all rounder in the game...."

 

[Black Diamond]

His mind isn't here, it's in mid-2013. If he gets to the ashes the sheer will of the man will probably mean he has a good series. I think the selectors sense that and, together with nothing compelling from younger domestic batsmen, this is why he hasn't been tapped on the shoulder. A genuine ATG on a blood mission with literally nothing to lose would present an intimidating figure for England. As much as I cringe watching him fall around the place at the crease, I can see the old bastard doing something special when the urn is there again.

Here is his record from the 2001 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2005 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2009 Ashes.

And you mean to say, despite never setting an Ashes series alight in England, that going on 39 years of age "the sheer will of the man will probably mean he has a good series"? Honestly, that is the stupidest thing I've read from anybody on this forum who is trying to defend Ponting and his performances over the last four years.

 

[DaRick]

He has until Perth due to Quiney's under-performance.

After that, the selectors may start assessing his place.

 

[crownie]

Watson in for Quieny.

Probably should go if we lose and he fails again in Perth.

 

[Yidaki]

I've seen enough. He is just embarrassing now. Bye bye Ponting. You should have retired last year. Thanks for the memories.

 

[Donakebab]

Sad to see him like this, still one of my favourite cricketers of all time, but he's cooked. Might get one last whirl in the first test against Sri Lanka at Bellerive.

 

[Badesumofu]

I said about this time last year, the stroke-play looks good. Seductively good. He still has the ability to hit great shots. He's lost the ability to not get out, though. His reflexes aren't what they were, and he hasn't been able to adjust his judgement to his current limitations. I just don't see the situation getting better. With Khawaja starting to make some runs, and Hughes making a big ton today - I think he might be running out of chances.

 

[Donners]

Here is his record from the 2001 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2005 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2009 Ashes.

And you mean to say, despite never setting an Ashes series alight in England, that going on 39 years of age "the sheer will of the man will probably mean he has a good series"? Honestly, that is the stupidest thing I've read from anybody on this forum who is trying to defend Ponting and his performances over the last four years.

According to Malcolm Conn in yesterday's Hun, it is "difficult to see Australia winning the Ashes next year without him." Not quite sure what he is basing that on...

 

[The King!]

Better take some wickets in the 2nd innings

 

[amer]

Here is his record from the 2001 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2005 Ashes.
Here is his record from the 2009 Ashes.

And you mean to say, despite never setting an Ashes series alight in England, that going on 39 years of age "the sheer will of the man will probably mean he has a good series"? Honestly, that is the stupidest thing I've read from anybody on this forum who is trying to defend Ponting and his performances over the last four years.

Think about what you're arguing. You sound like a fool. The hyperbole, the dismissal of someone floating something not that far-fetched as a possibility. Go find a woman to sort out, lol

 

[Yidaki]

It's not only that Ponting is getting out all the time that's the problem, but it's also the style in which he is being dismissed that is the biggest problem. He is looking like a under 16's tailender at the moment.

 

[The King!]

He looks shit, he is flat and he hasnt shown any signs it will change. At age 38 its time for the team to prepare for life without him.

Hes been carried a lot already i know, but out of respect he gets a farewell test i think, but no way does he get too the ashes surely.

 

[frankrizzo]

In the last two years ponting has played nine tests vs england and SA he has scored 219 runs in those nine tests(one 50 no tons) at the average of 14.5.

i know he had some fun vs india in those 4 tests but surely the nine tests against high quality quicks is far more relevant to his chances in england as a rapidly fading 38 year old?

I think a big issue with his diehard fans is that belief that he deserves a shot at ashes revenge...well yeah he did the 2010/2011 ashes was his chance at revenge for 2009, he had a shocker as a skipper and averaged 16 with the bat.

 

[AM]

Watson in for Quieny.

Probably should go if we lose and he fails again in Perth.

Watson in for Quiney if Watson is fit. If he's not I reckon the selectors might once again fall for the nick-to-slips specialist after his innings on the 'road' at the 'G' today.

I think Ricky will eventually need to be told times up. He won't do a Steve Waugh.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Watson in for Quiney if Watson is fit. If he's not I reckon the selectors might once again fall for the nick-to-slips specialist after his innings on the 'road' at the 'G' today.

I think Ricky will eventually need to be told times up. He won't do a Steve Waugh.

If Watson isn't fit, who should come in for Quiney?

The 'nick-to-slips specialist' is a much better and deserving player.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Punter was the in-form player leading up to the Test Series.

Shame to see him go out like this, but give him a Test record match equal with Steve Waugh next week, and reckon that's about it I'm afraid.

Can't possibly see him off to England next year.

 

[Black Diamond]

Think about what you're arguing. You sound like a fool. The hyperbole, the dismissal of someone floating something not that far-fetched as a possibility. Go find a woman to sort out, lol

I based my post on precedent and fact: the prededent of him never doing that well in England in previous tours, and the fact that he will be almost 39.

Your opinion is bullshit. "Not far-fetched" my arse.

 

[Black Diamond]

According to Malcolm Conn in yesterday's Hun, it is "difficult to see Australia winning the Ashes next year without him." Not quite sure what he is basing that on...

Upon reading that, my first thought was that you miss quoted him.

We take Ponting the Ashes and we basically play a batsman short.

 

[crownie]

Upon reading that, my first thought was that you miss quoted him.

We take Ponting the Ashes and we basically play a batsman short.

batting at 4 yes, batting at 6 maybe...

 

[Bucking Beads]

I wanted Punter to call it quits last summer when he was scoring runs. He was always going to get hounded when he started to fail again. I don't think taking both Punter and Hussey on an Ashes tour at 38 is a good move. Punter has shown he reflexes are not as quick as they used to be and with his technical weaknesses he will be cannon fodder for quality bowlers. I don't think Ponting is the difference between us winning the Ashes or not so if we were to lose I'd prefer to do it while blooding a younger batsmen.