Captain Courageous, Bradman Junior Ricky Ponting

[Plum]

I the convert to Ponting.
Great batsman.
Even india record improved now so undisputed best batsman
3 time worldcup winner, 2 time captain.

Series draw in india and twice regaining the ashes - upcoming laurels.

Let me back a winning horse. You?

[Plum]

Reserved

[Plum]

Reserved

[Plum]

Reserved

[Plum]

Reserved

[Maniraj]

:poke:

[Plum]

Reserved

[steveaustin]

Ponting has really improved his game to counter the Indian spinners, particularly in the Indian tracks. Yesterday, he was initially circumspect but later he was a sheer joy to watch. Effortless shots! He is a class act when the bat is in his hand! After watched his game yesterday, I have to admit that he is one of the outstanding batsmen among the modern day cricketers. Amazing player but poor captain.

[Plum]

Agreed. He has improved a lot. That's been his character - learning from mistakes.
Also, bringing back johnson in place of george today for dravid was a masterclass.
Dhoni, otoh, has been making outrageous punts(some of them lucky like raina) and poor field settings. If the better captain deserves to win, then ponting atleast deserves a series draw

[Dhakshan]

:rotfl3:
Ean ithana reservation.. Epdiyo indha thread ku innum 2 naal le use illaama poga pogudhu :lol2:

[steveaustin]

Also, bringing back johnson in place of george today for dravid was a masterclass.

Are you serious? I don't think it was a planned move. Johnson was removed because of Sehwag's onslaught. When Sehwag got out, Mitchell is automatic choice. Somehow, the move has worked for him. You can see his foolish captaincy, introduction of Hauritz whenever the great SRT came out to bat in this series. Instead of Hauritz, I would have tried out with the newcomer George against SRT. Since, possibility of SRT giving his wicket to newcomers is little bit high than the spinners. Mostly, from the second time onwards, SRT will dominate those newcomers. I would prefer fast bowlers rather than spinners (except left arm unorthodox spinners) on any day when the master is at crease. Had he tried his newcomer to bowl on and around offstump, I may accept that he is a good captain. I have seen him played few brilliant innings with the bat, but never as a captain in the field. Without bat he is nothing is my perception.

[Dhakshan]

Steve :clap:
Idhuku Plum enna solla pogiraar nu aavaludan kaathu kondurikirom :)

[Plum]

Oh Come on Steve - Taken off because of Sehwag assault? For one over, one four and one six? As though better and experienced bowlers than George havent conceded that much in their opening over to Sehwag ever.
And Sehwag was out before the chance for second over from George(which was bowled by Johnson) so obviously, it is not fear of Sehwag that made Ponting remove George. Give credit where it is due yA

[Dhakshan]

Its always the Team Australia takes them to victory IMO..
Ponting always had or even hav the luxury of best team in the World.. He can be a good batsman, or in ur language grandson or junior of Bradman, but not a great captain IMHO :)

[Puliyan_Biryani]

edhukku ellaarum serious-a badhil sollittu irukkeenga? idhu chatterjee illaiyaa :confused2:

[Plum]

illainga. Serious-nga. chE yArumE namba mAtRAnga :(

Hub-la oru global warming effect Agi, neraiya climate changes Agittirukku - Maddy KH Side vandhuttAr. andha mAdhiri nAn Ponting sideku pOyittEn. nambungappA!

[Puliyan_Biryani]

illainga. Serious-nga. chE yArumE namba mAtRAnga :(

Hub-la oru global warming effect Agi, neraiya climate changes Agittirukku - Maddy KH Side vandhuttAr. andha mAdhiri nAn Ponting sideku pOyittEn. nambungappA!
Never in a thousand years. aana chatterjee-ku muzhu aadharavu kudukkaren. Ponting is the bestest captain (maamaa mannaa) the world has produced :notworthy:

[Dhakshan]

illainga. Serious-nga. chE yArumE namba mAtRAnga :(

Hub-la oru global warming effect Agi, neraiya climate changes Agittirukku - Maddy KH Side vandhuttAr. andha mAdhiri nAn Ponting sideku pOyittEn. nambungappA!
Never in a thousand years. aana chatterjee-ku muzhu aadharavu kudukkaren. Ponting is the bestest captain (maamaa mannaa) the world has produced :notworthy:

:lol:
//BTW Puli, neenga Johnney Depp avatar vechurukum bodhu, unga location le third level dream nu potturindheenga.. Wat is the connection? :huh: //

[Plum]

Brilliant move by Ricky to bring in mid-on and tempting Raina yesterday. What a brilliant captain! He deserves to win a test in india as captain - and this test should be it.

[Plum]

5 wickets for 9 runs. Superb captaincy by Ponting. And now batting on 18. Based on captains alone, Ponting deserves to win atleast this test in this series.
Go for 100 Ponting. If Sachin can get 200, you can easily get 100.
Even a 50 means 3 50's in 4 innings in this series - that is awesome!
Hail Ricky!

[ajaybaskar]

Appaada!!!

[Plum]

enna appAdA, nAn seriousA Pontingai support paNNikitturukkEn :twisted:


Harbhajan Singh to Ponting, no run, 85.4 kph, shout for lbw>From round the stumps, it was flighted on a length around the off and middle and turned in. Ponting was on the front foot and pushed outside the line. It would have hit the middle and off stumps. Hawk eye confirms that it would have. Ponting survives!

:poke: to Durby!

Go, Ponting, Go for 100!

[Plum]

On a wearing track, Australia are building a huge lead. Ponting's gonna finally win a test as captain in India :yay:

Ricky, dont worry - evern if you set 120, this Indian batting lineup cannot chase it :lol:. You are winning this, Ricky boy!

[Plum]

On a wearing track, Australia are building a huge lead. Ponting's gonna finally win a test as captain in India :yay:

Ricky, dont worry - evern if you set 120, this Indian batting lineup cannot chase it :lol:. You are winning this, Ricky boy!

[Riyazz]

Nenga aus support panna india ku romba nalladu. Nenga ipa Satish placea pudicutinga. :P

[Plum]

Khel abhi baaki hai Dost!
The match is still on.
innum indha innings mudiyala.

I said Ponting will score a century - this is his last innings in this series, and he will score big. Just wait and watch. I will get double points for whatever he scores.

Captaincyku points irundhA, Ponting would have scored hugely. For his captaincy alone, Ponting deserves to and will win this match :-)

[Dhakshan]

Plum, neenga konjam Border Gavaskar thread kum vandhu chaterjee pottu ponga :lol2:
Kaalailaerdhu ungala thedidirundha inga enna pannitu irukinga, chinna pulla thanamaa :evil:

[Plum]

adhu puLi mAdhiri baed elements vandhu pOgara idam.
engaL thanga thalaivar Ponting-ai angE romba kalAikarInga so andha thread pEchu kA.

innikku, indha threadla dhAn engaL thalaivar Ponting pugazh pAdikittruppEn.

avar century adippAr appO ingE vandhu nIngaLum :clap: pOttuttu pOnga.

Match Australia jeichAvuNE, ellOrum vandhu ingE attendance kudunga :evil:

[steveaustin]

Madhu: "The pair of Hussey and Ponting has been the most prolific over the last five years for Australia. They have aggregated 1936 runs at an average of 55.31 with six century stands and 9 fifty partnerships."

Slowly Ricky Ponting is getting better and better in the Indian soil. Now he has started to play well against Indian spinners even on the fourth day. It seems that he has learned the tricks to tackle the Indian spinners well on the spinning tracks.

Ricky Ponting majestic six!!! :cheer: :cheer:

[Riyazz]

Ponting brings up his 2000th run against India

[steveaustin]

51.5
Sehwag to Ponting, 1 run, 79.1 kph, flighted full outside off, and Ponting brings up his 2000th run against India with a drive to long-off

Even though he has failed miserably against India in India in the earlier visits (something around 150 runs in 8 tests), Ponting still manages to score 2000 runs which is remarkable. He is playing a little gem of an innings here. In the last six tests in India, I think he has nearly scored 500 runs, which shows his class and remarkable improvement in playing well against the Indian spinners.

[Riyazz]

dhoni :hammer: POINTING :clap:

[Riyazz]

Khan to Ponting, OUT, 135.0 kph, Fabulous innings comes to an end. Zaheer is the man who terminates it. It was the full delivery that landed on the off and middle line and straightened. Ponting went forward and across - perhaps pushed his front pad too far across- and tried to get his bat around the pad. Too late. The ball thuds into the pad. Was it missing off? Was it hitting off? Replays show that it would have hit the off stump. Indians roar in the stands and in the middle. What a knock this from Punter. It was a treat.


RT Ponting lbw b Khan 72 (117b 7x4 1x6) SR: 61.53

[Plum]

Ponting :clap:
Unlucky to miss a century.
He has shwon that he can bat well in india. Tomorrow, he will show that he can win a test as captain in india. Adhu nadandhappuram ellOrum vandhu :clap: paNNittu pOnga

[Dhakshan]

Plum, unga mana dhairiyatha paaraati, ungala thembootum vidhathula, enga kampaeny koduka pora oru adhisaya porul, naalaiku kaalailaeyae aarambichadhumae Aussies oada 3 wickets :lol2:

[steveaustin]

Is it a match winning (T)ricky innings played by him in India? Has Dhoni missed a trick in bringing Zaheer late today? :roll: I've to wait till tomorrow. But, it is certainly one of the brilliant fourth innings played by a foreigner in India on a wearing track.

For me, till date, Gavaskar's unforgettable masterpiece 96 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fblIkbtMikQ&feature=related) against Pakistan in 1987 where all the batsmen from both teams were struggled to score a few runs in the minefield Bangalore is the bestever innings played in India. The Paki spinners Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahammed were making the ball turn at right angles, squared the batsmen and jump past the nose. His innings was cut short by a miserable umpiring decision. He is probably the greatest ever technical batsmen I have seen in my lifetime who played the fourth innings better than anybody against world's awesome bowling attacks and in the worst pitches. I have never seen any other batsman play the cricketing shots with such precision on a wearing track.

[littlemaster1982]

Is it a match winning (T)ricky innings played by him in India? Has Dhoni missed a trick in bringing Zaheer late today? :roll: I've to wait till tomorrow. But, it is certainly one of the brilliant fourth innings played by a foreigner in India on a wearing track.

Sorry to nitpick, it's third innings of the match.

[steveaustin]

:oops2: Thanks for the nitpick.

[Plum]

Nitpick or not, it is a match winning knock. This match is going to see the miracle of a double centurion losing out on man of the match because an opponent played a match winning half century.
Man of the match ponting-nu predict paNNAma pOyittEnE :hammer: to self

[Plum]

Plum, unga mana dhairiyatha paaraati, ungala thembootum vidhathula, enga kampaeny koduka pora oru adhisaya porul, naalaiku kaalailaeyae aarambichadhumae Aussies oada 3 wickets :lol2:
eduthukOnga. Whatever target Aussies set, they'll defend. We have captain courageous ricky with us. He'll defend any target tomorrow. Wait and watch.

[Dhakshan]

Plum, unga mana dhairiyatha paaraati, ungala thembootum vidhathula, enga kampaeny koduka pora oru adhisaya porul, naalaiku kaalailaeyae aarambichadhumae Aussies oada 3 wickets :lol2:
eduthukOnga. Whatever target Aussies set, they'll defend. We have captain courageous ricky with us. He'll defend any target tomorrow. Wait and watch.

Oh yea.. Whatever target Aussies set up, we hav players to break it.. INDIA r on a verge to sweep the series I say!!

[sunnyg]

Guys

Ponting was out twice LBW to Harbajan!

I hope the Umpires are as lenient to the Indian batsmen during the chase.

Ponting is a great player. Still his record at india is mediocre with 1 century in 5-6 visits.

Remember, he is probably facing the weakest spin attack in decades. Kumble has retired and Harbajan is no longer the force he once was.

Sachin will strive to improve his record at South Africa in the coming tour there.

My money is still on Australia to win this test unless Viru decides otherwise. There is no one stopping Australia this time.

Sunny.

[Plum]

UmpireslAm enga(aussie) pocketla. kAlla ball pattA any indian batsman lbw dhAn. Anyway, even without umpires' help, awesome captain ricky will lead australia to victory

[Dhakshan]

Plum, unga post-a pathu evlo naeram thaan naanum kandrol panna mudium :rotfl: mudiyala :rotfl:

[Riyazz]

UmpireslAm enga(aussie) pocketla. kAlla ball pattA any indian batsman lbw dhAn. Anyway, even without umpires' help, awesome captain ricky will lead australia to victory :lol: plum wait n see .

[Riyazz]

UmpireslAm enga(aussie) pocketla. kAlla ball pattA any indian batsman lbw dhAn. Anyway, even without umpires' help, awesome captain ricky will lead australia to victory :lol: plum wait n see .

[Plum]

The best hope for india is if australia take time to declare and the time required to bat and save by india becomes very less.
Still, lunchkappuram declare paNNA kUda captain ponting will set brilliant fields and take 10 wickets :cool:

[steveaustin]

Still, lunchkappuram declare paNNA kUda captain ponting will set brilliant fields and take 10 wickets :cool:

idhu ungaLukkE overA theriyala?? :P

[Plum]

200 lead :cool:
India fans :lol: - how are your fair weather batsmen going to chase the target Captain Ponting's men are going to set them.
Pray for rain :lol:

[Puliyan_Biryani]

When was the last time Ponting's side (or any Aussie side for that matter) was white washed :think:

[Dhakshan]

The best hope for india is if australia take time to declare and the time required to bat and save by india becomes very less.
Still, lunchkappuram declare paNNA kUda captain ponting will set brilliant fields and take 10 wickets :cool:

:rotfl3:

[m_karthik]

When was the last time Ponting's side (or any Aussie side for that matter) was white washed :think:

Puli, Hope this is not a racist comment :lol:

[Maniraj]

Enga pa Captain courageous :roll: :rotfl3:

[Maniraj]

The best hope for india is if australia take time to declare and the time required to bat and save by india becomes very less.
Still, lunchkappuram declare paNNA kUda captain ponting will set brilliant fields and take 10 wickets :cool:


Hahooo hahooo :rotfl2:

[Plum]

We really need only 2 wickets now. Get Pujara and Tendulkar out and the rest of the Indian batting will cave in.
epdiyum engaL thanga thalaivar Ricky innikku jeyikkaRAr!

[Plum]

:yes: - Pujara gAli.
Just one more - remove Tendulkar and Australia will win this! :yay:

[Maniraj]

:yes: - Pujara gAli.
Just one more - remove Tendulkar and Australia will win this! :yay:

:fatigue:

[Thirumaran]

:yes: - Pujara gAli.
Just one more - remove Tendulkar and Australia will win this! :yay:

vitta 1 run target with 6 wicket irukkum boathu kooda ippadiyae paesuveenga poala :lol2:

[Maniraj]

India inch closer to a series whitewash, even as a calm and composed Tendulkar has stood rock solid at the other end. Ponting lacked imagination as a skipper, and chose to set up defensive fields, a move which will surely come in for sharp criticism from Down Under. India should wrap this up shortly after Tea


:exactly:

[sathya_1979]

on behalf of Plum:
This will give birth to start of another ashes wherein India will lose the remaining 7 wickets for less than 22 runs, the same scenario which gave birth to ashes.
T break is the Turning break for captain ricky :yes:

[SMI]

MOM plumku kodungappa :lol:

it works :thumbsup:

[omega]

Plum the poosaari --> intha vaatti unga sirappu poojai pontinga kaali panniduchchu.....soooooper

[Plum]

Hubbers(mayilsamy): Border-Gavaskar kaiya vutttu pOyiduchE. nInga oorukku thirumba vENdiyadhu dhAnA? :(
Plum(Ponting a.k.a. nAi sEkar): no...ennoda nesstu target...bharathiraja style hand framing like camera ....The Ashes(nayantara)!!!

[ajaybaskar]

Plumku en saarbaga oru 'O'. :-)

[Dhakshan]

Plum, the poosaari.. Indha style kooda nalla iruke.. Ipdi oru thread aarambichadalaama...

[Dhakshan]

Aanaalum Ponting ivlo kaevala pattu aarum pathuruka maatanga.. Plum, unga chaterjee :2thumbsup:

[SoftSword]

thanks for the efforts plum.

[Plum]

irundhAlum indha series romba muzhi oidhungiruchu. Chatterjee power mElayE sandhEgam varra aLavukku pOyiduchu...munnallAm, chatterjee post pOttAlE work Agum. ippollAM chatterjee thread-E Arambikka vENdi irukku :(

[SoftSword]

appo world cupku oru patthu thread open panni vainga....mudinja oru parallel hub open pannunga... naanga full support tharom..

[Thirumaran]

irundhAlum indha series romba muzhi oidhungiruchu. Chatterjee power mElayE sandhEgam varra aLavukku pOyiduchu...munnallAm, chatterjee post pOttAlE work Agum. ippollAM chatterjee thread-E Arambikka vENdi irukku :(

poara poakka paarthaa, chatterjee kku thani section ae open panna vaendi irukkum poala ..

[Sourav]

intha thread/posts ellam cahttergy-nu puriyama riyazz ellam yethutthu post pannappo sirippai control panna mudila... but, plum kashtapattu podura chattergy ellam keduka koodathunu rotfl podala...

[Thirumaran]

intha thread/posts ellam cahttergy-nu puriyama riyazz ellam yethutthu post pannappo sirippai control panna mudila... but, plum kashtapattu podura chattergy ellam keduka koodathunu rotfl podala...

un naattu patru yaarukku varum :notworthy:

[Sourav]

intha thread/posts ellam cahttergy-nu puriyama riyazz ellam yethutthu post pannappo sirippai control panna mudila... but, plum kashtapattu podura chattergy ellam keduka koodathunu rotfl podala...

un naattu patru yaarukku varum :notworthy:
Jaihind!

[steveaustin]

Plum(Ponting a.k.a. nAi sEkar): no...ennoda nesstu target...bharathiraja style hand framing like camera ....The Ashes(nayantara)!!!

Sir, Nayantara sir!!! pAvam Ponting-ai vittutudunga. :lol:

previous Indian tours-a compare paNNA unga strategy-aiyum meeRi avan indha series-la nallAvE AdittAn... nalla vELai oru century kooda pOdalai. vara vara unga strategy-Oda power kurainjikittE varRA pOla theriyudhu. :P

[steveaustin]

Jaihind!

aNNan arjun rasigar Agitteenga pOla theriyudhu. :lol2:

[Thirumaran]

Jaihind!

aNNan arjun rasigar Agitteenga pOla theriyudhu. :lol2:

u missed it completely.. in that movie Ranjitha hai naa

[Plum]

irundhAlum indha series romba muzhi oidhungiruchu. Chatterjee power mElayE sandhEgam varra aLavukku pOyiduchu...munnallAm, chatterjee post pOttAlE work Agum. ippollAM chatterjee thread-E Arambikka vENdi irukku :(

poara poakka paarthaa, chatterjee kku thani section ae open panna vaendi irukkum poala ..

koot itea!

[steveaustin]

u missed it completely.. in that movie Ranjitha hai naa
:lol:

[Puliyan_Biryani]

I'm still the best choice as captain - Ponting

http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/content/story/481780.html

:rotfl: anne adhai mathavanga sollanum.

[Sourav]

:rotfl2:

[Dhakshan]

I'm still the best choice as captain - Ponting

http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/content/story/481780.html

:rotfl: anne adhai mathavanga sollanum.

:lol: So wat will be Plum's reply for this? :think:

[sathya_1979]

Plum: angE sirippavargaL sirikkattum adhu aaNava sirippu

[Plum]

Hub-la dhAn thalaivarai pArthu sirikkaRInga. Look around in Aus Cricket blogs, English cricket forums, guardian.co.uk, cricinfo etc - English supporters are wetting their pants seeing Ponting's batting in India.
IndialEyE ipdi adichAnnA, Australiala adhuvum namma bowling attack-ai epdi veLuppAnnu joratthula irukkAnga

thalaivar Ponting will show his class in the Ashes series this year. In 2007, Sachin-ai pArthu ipdi dhAN Aussie-English-Manjrekar gumbal sirichudhu. ippO they have their tail betweeen their legs. Ponting being a player of the same class will quieten you guys soon. Wait and watch!

[Plum]

The Ashes are coming. Thalaivar Ponting under pressure - which means he will come good spectacularly.
England - ungaLaiyellAm pArthA enakku pAvamA irukku :lol:

Predict Ponting's run tally in this year's Ashes.
Will he overtake Sachin next year or in/after 2012?

[ajithfederer]

800 + runs.

2 double 100's + 1 hundred and 3 fifties. Oh yeah he wins the series 5-0 :lol:

[Plum]

F-R, can you add an option 900+ - Bradman pErandA!

[Puliyan_Biryani]

F-R, can you add an option 900+ - Bradman pErandA!
adhaan orutharum madhichu vote podalaiye, neengale option add pannalaamnu nenaikkaren.

[jinju]

a match winning 200 and a match saving 100 can be guaranteed from ricky ponting this series. koi shaque, mr. plum?!

aussies play best when totally down, and i vouch for them to beat the poms fair n square this time too! second chapter of the ponting legend starts day after!

[Plum]

Fantastic Fifty for Captain Ponting! Ominous portents for England.
England, be afraid. Be very afraid. Ponting's back to form. A few centuries and half centuries are in the offing in this series!
aNNan Ponting kaiyila bat eduthukittu keLambittAr indha seriesla evLO england thalaigaL uruLa pOgudhO!

[PARAMASHIVAN]

enathu Fonding Jenctury adikapOrara :rotfl:

No chance, his days are over. But then again, when two minnows play jencturay illa even triple jenctury Fossible :lol2:

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJVDKwNgSFw

Ricky Ponting 197 vs Pakistan 1999

[Plum]

Thanks Feddy. aNNan Ricky super adi!

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz9yZFCrUA

Ricky Ponting 156* vs New Zealand 2001 Hobart 2nd test

[Plum]

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Eagerly awaiting the backlash from one of the toughest Cricketers still playing...

COME ON, RICKY!!

[Plum]

Lesser souls are destroyed by a mild storm
Ponting's the sort a hurricane cannot harm
Many test matches may be lost
Aura may be slipping fast
But not long before thalaivar comes back to form.

Beware England, you haven't won nothing yet. There is enough time in this series for Australia to regain the Ashes.

A great player like Ponting will not have a humiliating exit - there might be slip-ups and storms, but they'll weather it and go out on their own terms. For that reason alone, England shall lose this series.

[ajaybaskar]

I dont think Plum would retire from this operation without hitting the last nail on ponting's coffin.. :-)

[ajithfederer]

I have to sympathize with Ponting (Not with the entire oz team) because he is in almost the same situation as Tendulkar was during his captaincy. Although nothing could match our(Indian) abysmal teams performance during that time the analogy still quite applies in the Test format. A star batsman of his caliber deserves a much better team at his disposal. This is affecting his batting performance also. From being a mighty number 1 for 6 years and 3 months to Number 5 with series losses in India(twice), England and a home-series loss against SA it's not entirely his fault. Australia can still win the series if they go for a major revamp.

[m_karthik]

Australia can still win the series if they go for a major revamp.



Of course, the view of the average Australian selector and punter is that making changes is somehow undignified and makes the team look panicky.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/08/who-wants-a-fat-serve-of-humble-pie/

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Sympathy? For Ponting? :roll:

Batting-wise I wouldn't sympathize too much for Ponting. Lara had to do this for the majority of his career. Playing in a weaker (if not the weakest) team never stopped Lara from producing his best, did it? If Ponting is truly a great player, then he would've risen above the rest and played brilliantly to carry the team in his shoulders. Lara's 99 series against Aus maadhiri ippo Ponting oru performance pannirundha paaraattalaam.

Captaincy-wise can't blame him too much for the current results. But this phase was certainly expected after the greats retired. And Ponting also has to take some blame for backing some defensive, journeymen and downright ineffective players like Hauritz,North,etc. These players are spoiling the building of a core team for the long-term. What does Hauritz give - flat offies which can be used as a defensive option. Instead of that, more chances could've been given to an attacking spinner like Krejza.

"innaikku sOrukku vazhiyai paappom, naalaikku prachanai naalaikku" type-la yosikkaradhai modhalla Ponting niruthanum. ippadi Border nenaichurundha Aussie team ivlo mela vandhurukkave vandhurukkaadhu. Though Border doesn't have spectacular results, atleast his legacy in bringing the team up from bottom is never questioned. That might be a good target for Ponting.

[Plum]

ellAm paNNi kAttuvAr thalaivar. indha serieslEyE, as a batsman and captain, veRRi peRRu kAttuvAr

[Plum]

Tremlett in :redjump:
Just the sort of plain vanilla hit the deck bowler Ricky will eat for lunch.

Signs are pointing to a big knock by Ponting. Which means Ricky's going to do what Bradman did in 1936. Inspire a come back with back to wall in the series with phenomenal batting and/or winning the series as captain.

evLO poruththamA title vechurukkEn threadku!

[Dinesh84]

Ponting closes in on career low with horror slump

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ponting-closes-in-on-career-low-with-horror-slump-20101216-18zs3.html

[Plum]

allOv, matchula enna nadandhukittirukku pArunga. aNNan birthday 19th annikku varudhu - birthday giftA Perth test match gelikkaRAr. Century pOdaRar. idhu nadakkum nadakkum nadandhE thIrum.

South aappirikAla unga aNi adi mEla adi vAngi kittirukku - adhai pOyi modhalla pArunga :evil:

[Plum]

All, please line up to watch the Ponting century. Only 99 more to go... I am going to do a countdown(sudharsh style)

[Plum]

Ponting seems to be getting back his groove. Seems exactly like the Pakistan series where he was down for two tests but after a nervous start, aced the 3rd test with a double century.
To be frank, even for Ponting haters like Plum , the signs were obvious towards this revival.

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Plum :notworthy:. You deserve a silai at the Lords Cricket Ground :D.

[ajaybaskar]

Ponting poottaan.. :rotfl:

[printhan]

Kallis pinnal avanthidaar.. oru vayasu vera avara vida kammi

[ajithfederer]

Ponting's average drops to 53.85 thanks to his poor ashes campaign.

10 51*
0 9
12 1

[m_karthik]

Ponting's average drops to 53.85 thanks to his poor ashes campaign.



Thanks to Plum illaya? :D

[Plum]

allOV, aNNanukku nALaikku Birthday. Intervalukkappuram screenplay apdiyE rivet adikkaRa mAdhiri, story is going to be completely different from tomorrow.
* Insert Vijay/Rajini dialogues per your preference*

Aanestu kitta kEttu threadku birthday alangaaramlAm epdi paNdradhunnu yOsikkaNum

[Plum]

Happy Birthday to the greatest captain ever and the greatest batsman of his generation - he will take all records from Tendulkar; only kallis is competition to him. It is already 19th in his country.

What a way to celebrate the birthday with a comeback win in an Ashes series!

Destiny's'child gets the perfect birthday present. A prosperous year beckons - those christmas celebrations can be full on again!

Hail Ricky, the emperor of Cricket

[m_karthik]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/itspontingsfault-say-twitter-users-20101229-199vr.html

Katy Perry's Career...
Justin Bieber.... :lol: :rotfl:

[Riyazz]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/494555.html

Ponting fights for his captaincy

Peter English at the MCG



Ricky Ponting knows his case to hold on to the captaincy is not strong, but he is desperate to retain the job and lift Australia from their lowest period since the mid-1980s. Ponting lost the Ashes away in 2005 and 2009 and he has become the country's first leader since Allan Border in 1986-87 not to hold the urn at home.

England celebrated as Ashes winners with their innings victory at the MCG and while the series can still be drawn in Sydney next week, the reality is Australia have lost. Ponting is no certainty to hold on to the leadership after being unable to inspire his team-mates with his batting or captaincy.

"The fact that I've lost those three series is disappointing for me," he said, slightly prematurely. "Hopefully I'm not only remembered as that guy, the guy that lost three Ashes series. There's lots of other great things I've been lucky to be able to be part of as a player throughout my career. This result is not one of my proudest."

Ponting is second on Test cricket's run list with 12,362, but he has added only 113 in eight bats in this series, which is more concerning given the damaged state of his side. Australia's squad for the fifth Test will be named on Thursday and the selectors could point to Ponting's broken left pinky if they want to ease him out. Ponting thinks he will be able to play but understands the situation might be taken out of his bruised hands.

"It's out of my control, I can't think too much about it," he said. "I've tried my hardest over the last couple of weeks to try to play well and try to lead the team as well as possible. I've felt I've led the team as well as I can. I haven't performed the way I wanted to perform, but I certainly haven't done it without trying, that's for sure."

It seems the only way Ponting will be dethroned is if the selectors force him out, either publicly or privately, and if they do it now they risk upsetting him before his defence of the World Cup starting in February. Ponting has never lost a World Cup game as captain and Australia are pushing for a fourth consecutive success at the tournament.

"Whatever decision I make, it's really important it's for the betterment of Australian cricket," he said. "I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team. I still think I've got a lot to offer in both those regards."

Ponting took over from Steve Waugh in 2004 and since then has developed an excellent record of 48 wins in 77 games, but over the past two years the change of personnel has resulted in the side falling to fifth in the world. However, the number of his team is not as painful as another below-par Ashes campaign.

"I probably haven't got much of a case at the moment," he said of hanging on to the captaincy. "I've got a lot of knowledge on the game, the fact that I've played 150 Tests and won 99 Test matches.

"I've captained a lot of winning teams. There is no doubt that the experiences I have in the game will hold me in good stead. I feel I am well equipped to bring on some young guys and we have got a few of them in the side now."

The resume is impressive but time is moving fast for Ponting, who is now 36, and the selectors must decide whether he is worth holding on to. Not having a ready-made replacement is one major issue, with Michael Clarke struggling with the bat and at times behaving like someone who doesn't want the extra responsibility. Clarke is 29, enjoys an A-list lifestyle, and has a heavy influence over Phillip Hughes and Steven Smith, his young New South Wales team-mates.

While there is currently strong public sentiment against Clarke and Ponting, the incumbent said he has received encouragement from the majority of people he has run into recently. "I've received great support in the last few weeks," he said. "I've had other international players in the last couple of mornings send messages through to me about different things."

But there are growing elements of despair in the masses and Ponting does care what the public thinks. "Yeah of course, we all do," he said. "But quite often there's a perception out there which sometimes you can't change. No matter what you do and how well you do things, sometimes you can't change things.

"I'm trying to do the right thing by my team and by Australian cricket. I think that right through my career I've been able to do that most of the time. I haven't been able to do it in the last few weeks and for that I'm bitterly disappointed and so is the rest of my group. We will soldier on."

Australia lasted for only 83 minutes on the fourth morning and with Ryan Harris not batting due to his stress fracture, the end came when Ben Hilfenhaus edged Tim Bresnan behind. The mood of the hosts has swung dramatically over the past week with a huge high in Perth and now another low to match the one of the other innings defeat in Adelaide.

"We weren't doing handstands," Ponting said of the post-match mood in the dressing room. "Only last week we were on top of the world. We didn't do anything different this week than we did last week, we just haven't played well."

[hamid]

Ponting has never lost a World Cup game as captain

Is it?

[raajarasigan]

Ponting has never lost a World Cup game as captain

Is it?Yes.. 2003 / 2007 - Aus had NOT lost any match to win the cup

[hamid]

Thanks RR..
then it is better for Ponting to step down or not participate in this world cup.. at least he can save this unbeaten record :yes:

[Plum]

In the Sydney test starting tomorrow, Clarke will show Australia why they need Ponting as Captain

[Plum]

Ponting must stay as Test Captain (http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/inbox/archives/2011/01/ponting_must_stay_as_test_capt.php)

Some good points:
1.
Following the World Cup (where Super Rick will attempt to win his fourth consecutive World Cup, third as captain) he should be told that reducing his workload may be overly beneficial. Stepping down from ODIs will keep him to Test matches only and allow him to focus on returning to powerful form. Although he remains one of the greatest batsmen to ever don the colours, ODIs must go.

Agree. After his team wins the ODI Cricket World Cup this year, he must retire from ODI Cricket. I think he will.
2.
While his pride will already be dented by being told ODIs were finished, Ricky Thomas will have to move down to No. 4 or 5. Facing the new ball is no longer his game, being successful in the middle order is. Ponting has averaged beyond 58 at No. 3 for almost ten years, yet he is obviously moving along in age and reflexes, so holding down the middle order while a younger member of the team takes over No. 3 (or even Shane Watson) is the right move to make.

Right. He still has many years as a test batsman, especially if he moves down to #5 or #6, even. He can easily increase his average by 2-3 points and score another 2000+ runs easily.
3.
Stay as captain:
This I am not sure. I think he can focus on his batting now instead of worrying about Johnson's swing and Hughes' (non existent) form. If he does, given his ability to capitalise on form, Sachin can never hope to set a record that Ricky will not beat.

[ajithfederer]

If Ricky Ponting is indeed dopped from the Test side then he is stranded on 99 wins as a Test Player. I hope he is included in the future tests so as to become the first player to be part of 100 team wins.

[Plum]

He will. Dont worry

[Movie Cop]

Sachin can never hope to set a record that Ricky will not beat.
Faanting kooda innum konja naalulla oothippAn pOla irrukku. Aana enakku enamO, indhe Kaaliappan-uhh nenacha thein konjam bayamA irrukku. :shaking: In terms of Test record, I've started to think, of late, that Kaaliappan is going to be a bigger threat to Sachin that Faanting.

I request you shift your focus (chatteerjee, I mean) to Kaaliappan. :noteeth:

[ajithfederer]

Mogathai siricha madhiri vechittu sollunga.

He will. Dont worry

[Plum]

Ponting WC jeyichu, marubadiyum test teamla vandhu century mEla century pOdattum. SirichA mAdhiri solREn

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Ashes Pre-series video: How can we give the Poms a chance?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?=7rM9j5j2IKg

Practice make a man(ponting) ferfect :lol:.

[Plum]

Thomas maganE varuga. thavaRamal (kOppai) vEnRu tharuga.

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFsl9g4PUQA&feature=feedu

[raajarasigan]

Ponting reprimanded for damaging TV
Australia's captain Ricky Ponting [ Images ] was reprimanded on Wednesday by the International Cricket Council [ Images ] for damaging a television in the team's dressing room during Australia's World Cup match against Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the ICC [ Images ] said he was found guilty of "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match".

Ponting accepted the charge and agreed to pay for the damage.

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/world-cup-2011-ponting-reprimanded-icc/20110223.htm

[cinema]

I heard that his run out was repeatedly telecasted in that TV and got really upset with that TV and that is why he broke the TV. If that is the case the fault is with TV and not with him and he did not deserve any fine. :)

[Plum]

Ridiculous indian media. Apparently, he threw his protective gear(rubber!) Into his kit bag. It bounced and hit the TV. What can he do for that? A rubber equipment had the temerity to not go where he intended it to. Ban that box!

[sathya_1979]

Ponting becomes the first player in ODI history to be a part of the team that won 250 ODIs

[Plum]

IdhellAm jujubee - four world cup winning medals, 3 as Captain. IdhellAm varalArA varum. PasangallAm notes eduppAnga

[ajithfederer]

Well done, Team Australia.

He is stranded on 99 tests win as a player also.

Ponting becomes the first player in ODI history to be a part of the team that won 250 ODIs

[Plum]

Mods, please help change the Poll to "Predict Thalaivar Ponting's Run Aggregate tally in the 2011 ODI World Cup"
The options can remain the same.

[littlemaster1982]

Mods, please help change the Poll to "Predict Thalaivar Ponting's Run Aggregate tally in the 2011 ODI World Cup"
The options can remain the same.

Oru mudivodathaan irukkeenga :lol: Will try creating a new one.

EDIT: The options doesn't seem right for this WC.

[Plum]

sari optionskA pAnjam:
Not less than 200 - thalaivar is minimum guarantee
Less than 200 (i.e.) i don't know cricket
201-300 - average tournament for him as a batsman
301-400 (i.e.) kalakka pOvadhu yaaru? nI dhaan!
501-600 (i.e.) i am better than sachin
601-700 (i.e.) retirement? After 2015 WC perhaps!
701-800 (i.e.) Kamaan Tiger!

[sathya_1979]

601-700 (i.e.) retirement? After 2015 WC perhaps!
rejjeted
instead
601-700 (i.e.) retirement? After Winning 2015 WC perhaps!

[Plum]

sathya - adhu! Guruvai minjum sishyan nee killAdi!

[ajithfederer]

Ponting apologises for dummy spit - Vaarathukku oru apology kodupaan pola.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/17/3166911.htm

Canada captain Ashish Bagai was delighted with Ponting's dummy-spit.

"It was very, very good for us to see him a little disappointed and frustrated. We could have had him a bit more frustrated if we handled the middle part (of our innings) a bit more smartly," he said. - exactly what i said in my post the other day.

Watching from the commentary box, former captain Ian Chappell passed an unfavourable judgment.

"You don't want to see that from the captain," he said.

"You can't afford to let your emotions get up too high, nor too low as a captain."

[ajithfederer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Ponting

Reading Ponting's page in wiki. One could see his entire cricket career before their eyes. Whomever compiled all this information in one page deserves praise. Wiki is easily the best written site in the internet.

[sathya_1979]

Plum, time to change title - Captain Marvel, Better than Bradman - Ricky the Rockstar

[Plum]

Dharmam mINdum vellum enbadhai nilai nAttiyuLLa aNNan POntingku :clap:

ivLO nAL soodhu kavviruchu avarai - inimE ellAm avar rAsi dhAn. :wave: india from the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Sachinukku get-out. Pontingku cut-out.

[Plum]

:yes:. No review for India :lol:
idhu dhAn dharmam vellumngradhu

[Plum]

Last time India-Australia played in World Cup, Ricky Ponting hit a match-winning hundred. Repeat feat today. India :poke:

[Plum]

200*, 48 ODI centuries, 99 intl centuries - but head to head record with Ponting in worldcups - 0-2
Sachinukku :poke:

When the stakes are high, there is only one winner between Ponting and Sachin. That is Ricky. Sachin will not score a match winning 100 today so that's a decisive all-time great upper hand for Ponting.

[ajithfederer]

Spare some Thoughts for Ponting. A good exit for a great player who has won 2 wc's as captain 3 as a player and played and scored considerably in his first 1996 wc final. Easily one of the most successful players in WC right after Glenn Mcgrath. Scored a 100 when the team needed him the most and when out of form. Well done Ricky. Hope you achieve your 100th Test win as a player soon.

:clap:

[HonestRaj]

Ponting'ku kuzhi vettiya Plum :lol2:

Farewell Ricky :clap:

[Plum]

AF, Pontingin nalanukkAga indha thiri thodarndhu pOrAdum enbadhai magizchchiyOdu therivithu koLgiREn :)

[Puliyan_Biryani]

thodarndhu poraadaradhaa :lol2:? I think Ponting has played the last match of his career :D.

[Plum]

Allov he has made it clear he'll bat under any new captain. He is seeing himself as Sachin 2007 now.
The Bangla and Lankan tours will outline his value to Australia as a batsman. There is a lot left in his tank as a batsman.
I think the Aussie public, selectors etc will be against him as captain now but they are also conservative and will only touch his ODI captiancy. And a good performance in the asian tours will completely turn the tide in his favour.
In addition when the test team does well, and the odi team fails under clarke, he'll be back again.

Yesterday's innings was clearly a turn-the-corner one as batsman.
LatestA varuvAr pArunga

[ajithfederer]

Ponting - Great knock dude. Respect from a Tendulkar fanatic.

[Thirumaran]

Spare some Thoughts for Ponting. A good exit for a great player who has won 2 wc's as captain 3 as a player and played and scored considerably in his first 1996 wc final. Easily one of the most successful players in WC right after Glenn Mcgrath. Scored a 100 when the team needed him the most and when out of form. Well done Ricky. Hope you achieve your 100th Test win as a player soon.

:clap:
+1... Leaving aside the arrogancy part, he has been the best captain + player for years and a very main contributor to Aussies dominance..

[littlemaster1982]

Ponting - Great knock dude. Respect from a Tendulkar fanatic.

A fantastic batsman, no doubt. Respect!! Sometimes I think he would have been less hated if he had not been compared with Sachin. His poor sportsmanship and arrogance didn't help too.

[Riyazz]

enaku ivanala than Aus pidikama pochu........

eppadio WC last matchla 100 adichutu pora....... :clap:

[Plum]

His poor sportsmanship and arrogance didn't help too.
I think this is the key. Even Lara is compared to Tendulkar, is he hated? I dont think that is an issue.

Unfortunately, thalaivar Ponting's temparament lets him down often. Anyway, now he's back to form. This is the time to enjoy his renaissance like sachin of last two years :)

[raghavendran]

Ponting is a great player..as a batsman its great to watch him bat..he showed his class yesterday,rose to the occassion..one of the modern day greats :clap:

[littlemaster1982]

I think this is the key. Even Lara is compared to Tendulkar, is he hated? I dont think that is an issue.

Lara is more than worthy to be compared with Sachin. Ponting will always be in a rung next to them.


Unfortunately, thalaivar Ponting's temparament lets him down often. Anyway, now he's back to form. This is the time to enjoy his renaissance like sachin of last two years :)

I know this is a chatterjee statement, but not many batsman can have the transformation that Sachin had. I would be surprised if Ponting could replicate at least 50% of his old self.

[SoftSword]

nanum naetthu ivana paaraatti oru post podalaamnu vandhen, adhukkulla 'australian=cheats' video fb'la patthu tholanjutaen....
and was totally pissed off after revisiting the sharad pawar incident, ponting showing his fingers to pawar to give the trophy without any respect, and one another team mate of his pushed pawar... idhellaam kooda apdiyae varradhu illa...
oru velai sachin madhiri aalungala ellaam cricket'la paakkaadha irundhirundhaa, sporting'la idhellaam sagajamnu nenachu pontinga paaraatti post potrippeno ennavo...

[Plum]

Yeah, he is not exactly a role model for behaviour.
For example, cricinfo, the anti-India mouthpiece, recently wrote on Sachin vs Ponting wlaking debate. And it took the line that "Sachin walked because he didnt want to be shown up by UDRS" while another article seemed to argue that "Ponting didnt walk because that is the value he has been brought up in".
It was naueseating for several reasons
1) They were actually making Sachin look bad and Ponting look good in this debate :lol:
2) Apparently Ponting believes in "Dont walk; let the umpire make decision". Yet, when Murali Kartik didnt walk in a match India won, Ponting made comments to the effect of Murali should have walked. he didnt rememberr his values then, eh?

It is this duplicity of both him(Ponting himself claims he doesnt walk because that is the value he was brought up in - adhavadhu kadamaiya dhaan seiyaraArAm) and his supporters, agenda based cricinfo that earns him so much disrespect.

Ofcourse, his merit as a batsman and cricketer is irrespective of these things

[ajithfederer]

A hero even in defeat

Sambit Bal: Australia didn't bow out without a fight, and the man who was at the heart of their World Cup dominance made the strongest stand

India v Australia, 2nd quarter-final, World Cup 2011, Ahmedabad
Ponting creates a template

It is no shame for a veteran to strip things back, and at 36, Ricky Ponting should consider his hook-less, pared-back knock against India as an example of the way he should play in his cricketing twilight

Brydon Coverdale at Motera

March 24, 2011

Ricky Ponting pumps his fist on getting to a century, India v Australia, 2nd quarter-final, Ahmedabad, World Cup 2011, March 24, 2011
Ricky Ponting's celebration of his first international century in 13 months was a muted one © Getty Images
The day before Australia's quarter-final, Ricky Ponting said he was planning to watch the footage of the 2003 World Cup decider. He wanted to revisit his brilliant 140 in the triumph over India, and draw whatever inspiration he could from the memory. He won't want to see many replays of this loss, but he should keep the video all the same.

He can use his fighting 104 as a template for how to bat in the next phase of his career, given that he and the selectors want him to play on. It is not easy for a batsman of such immense talent to resist his natural urges, and there were hints of Ponting's flair during his first international century for 13 months. But mostly, it was a pared-back innings that relied on the fundamentals.

In his later years, the country singer Johnny Cash released a series of albums with a stripped-back production, all unnecessary instruments and distractions removed. What listeners heard was simply a man and his voice, and the world was reminded of his raw talent. It is no crime for a veteran to go back to basics. In fact, it can be a refreshing change.

In the early stages of Ponting's innings, there was little that was flashy. Singles were knocked around, gaps found and his eyes adjusted to the conditions and the bowling. When he did take a risk, it was calculated, and came against the part-timer Yuvraj Singh, who was clipped over midwicket for a boundary and then swept forward of square leg for four more.

It helped that Ponting hardly had to negotiate a bouncer. Zaheer Khan was the only member of India's attack with genuine pace, and he preferred to bowl full than dig it in short. That meant Ponting didn't have to make the decision on whether to play the hook, the shot that was once a great strength but over the past couple of years has become an Achilles heel.

Against Canada last week, Henry Osinde hurried Ponting in to lobbing a catch from an attempted hook, and with due respect to Osinde, he is no Shaun Tait. During Sachin Tendulkar's lean times, when the cover-drive was proving a weakness, he shelved the stroke and found his runs in other ways. Perhaps Ponting can look at a hook-less innings like this and follow suit.

At Motera, the failures of Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Cameron White, and the inability of Brad Haddin to capitalise on another strong start, forced Ponting to be Australia's anchor in the biggest one-day match they have played in years. Far from dragging the ship down, he kept it steady. He turned the strike over with 47 singles, and chose the right balls to go after.

In his prime, it would have been a point of honour for Ponting to go after the best opposition bowlers, show them who's boss. Here, he displayed the utmost respect for Harbhajan Singh, who has dismissed him more times in international cricket than anyone else, and attacked weaker links like Munaf Patel.

And as impressively as Yuvraj has bowled in this tournament, Ponting knew he too was a man who could occasionally be dispatched. His drive over cover for six off Yuvraj was all class. When he eventually did try something new and perilous, an uncharacteristic reverse sweep, he perished.

That came soon after Ponting reached his century, his first international hundred in any format since February 2010. There was no outpouring of emotion. He raised his bat, but didn't remove his helmet. Truth be told, he barely cracked a smile. There was a job still to be done. He believes there still is.

At 36, Ponting is in his cricketing twilight, although he has no desire to take his final bow any time soon. The one thing that might have forced the hand of the selection panel was a continued lack of runs. Australia are at the end of a World Cup cycle and he should move on from one-day cricket. But in whatever formats he plays from now until retirement day, this innings should serve as his template.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
RSS Feeds: Brydon Coverdale

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/507891.html

[ajithfederer]

A slight disagreement.
In ODI's I feel Ponting has achieved a lot in fact more than Lara.

Lara is more than worthy to be compared with Sachin. Ponting will always be in a rung next to them.

[littlemaster1982]

Correct. Though my statement was considering both the formats.


A slight disagreement.
In ODI's I feel Ponting has achieved a lot in fact more than Lara.

[sathya_1979]

Tests - Sachin followed closely by Lara then Ponting
ODI - Sachin followed by daylight followed by Ponting followed by Lara

[HonestRaj]

somehow Ponting reads this thread & all of Plum's posts about him..
Ponting gets a chance to meet Plum... this is how the conversation would start...

Ponting: யோவ் உனக்கு என்ன வாய் யா.. உனக்கு என்ன வாயி
Plum: தோல் வாய்டா தெரியல

sorry plum.. it can't be better than this..

[ajithfederer]

Ponting ponders next move
From: The Australian March 28, 2011 12:00AM

RICKY Ponting wants some think time about his future now he is home, but everything is telling him he is the right man for the captaincy and the team in this low time.


The captain is not the only person contemplating his next move as Shaun Tait is understood to be considering retirement from one-day cricket as early as today.

Ponting and Justin Langer have both invoked Sachin Tendulkar's improved form late in life as proof there is more to come for the Australian captain.

Langer is a passionate fan of the captain and claims a special insight into his leadership skills.

"Ricky Ponting's century under immense pressure was outstanding," Langer wrote in a column for the BBC.

"Anyone who believes he is not in the best 11 players in Australia at the moment must be seeing something different from what I witnessed last night.

"More importantly, you would only have to spend five minutes behind the closed doors of the Australian cricket team to recognise the inspirational impact he has across the board.

"Like Sachin, he has an incredible appetite for the game of cricket. He lives, eats, breathes and bleeds Australian cricket."

The one-day team is not home for long before it has to leave for a three-game series against Bangladesh that begins with a tour match on April 7.

"I will go to Bangladesh if selected, the team hasn't been picked yet," Ponting said.

"And I will look forward to that tour, then have a decent break after that to prepare for Sri Lanka and South Africa and the Australian summer.

"As I have said for a number of months, I have never seen a finish line, I have never come up with a time or a date or a game that might be my last.

"What I want to do is focus my time and energies to be the best player I can be.

"I will know the right time for me not to be playing, but I haven't found that time just yet."

Ponting yesterday reiterated what he said in his The Weekend Australian column on Saturday, that he was happy to play on even if the selectors decided there was a better leader in the team. He added he was happy to bat anywhere in the order.

"I still think I have a lot to offer the team as a player and as a leader; with the changing face of the team in the last two years we have got a lot of young faces around the team," he said.

"When I first came into the Australian cricket team I was lucky to have a lot of experienced guys around for me to learn what international cricket was all about.

"I want to make sure that the Phil Hugheses and the Steve Smiths and Usman Khawajas who we have got in our team at the moment have got those experienced guys around them.

"As I said, it has never been about how many runs I have scored or how many hundreds I have made. It is if I feel I can contribute with the bat and help the team win games of cricket and teach the young guys a little bit along the way, then I think I should still be playing."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/ponting-ponders-next-move/story-e6frg7rx-1226029035540

[Plum]

One thing is clear - his appetite for runs hasn't gone down. Why else would a man crave for a captain's position that has only brought pain and suffering recently?
The answer is deep down, Ricky Thomas Ponting seems to be one of the only two people I know who believe he can still beat most of Sachin's records. Although he cloaks it in patriotic and nationalistic sentiments, it does seem that this is the motivation.

Anyone else would have quit ODIs, focussed on tests and possibly given up captaincy of tests too.
I think Ponting believes
1) He can win back the Ashes as captain - kind of his birthright
2) He can score 100 intl centuries and beat one or more of Sachin's records for Test Runs career aggregate, international runs career aggregate, test centuries career aggregate, international centuries career aggregate, test average, odi average, match winning knocks, match winning knocks in important events(he has a world cup final winning century- Sachin has none - so already he is leading here)...
3) Win the worldcup as Captain in 2015 again.

How's that for mental strength? If nothing else, his sheer mental strength will help him achieve atleast one of the above 3

[jinju]

Ricky Ponting steps down as captain

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/508453.html

[jinju]

One thing is clear - his appetite for runs hasn't gone down. Why else would a man crave for a captain's position that has only brought pain and suffering recently?
The answer is deep down, Ricky Thomas Ponting seems to be one of the only two people I know who believe he can still beat most of Sachin's records. Although he cloaks it in patriotic and nationalistic sentiments, it does seem that this is the motivation.

Anyone else would have quit ODIs, focussed on tests and possibly given up captaincy of tests too.
I think Ponting believes
1) He can win back the Ashes as captain - kind of his birthright
2) He can score 100 intl centuries and beat one or more of Sachin's records for Test Runs career aggregate, international runs career aggregate, test centuries career aggregate, international centuries career aggregate, test average, odi average, match winning knocks, match winning knocks in important events(he has a world cup final winning century- Sachin has none - so already he is leading here)...
3) Win the worldcup as Captain in 2015 again.

How's that for mental strength? If nothing else, his sheer mental strength will help him achieve atleast one of the above 3

Plum, mission 1 accomplished! but what about poor mikaael clarke who had proclaimed that he will not captain a team which has Ricky the great Ponting in it?!:roll:

[Plum]

jinj, I think nothing can be ruled out yet.
I am thinking the loss of captaincy now will help him focus on batting and extend his career by another 2-3 years. So, I have a feeling he'll not retire before the next Ashes.
This should give him sufficient time to challenge Tendulkar's batting records - which is his primary motivation anyway as I think.

If things go fine, and Clarke fails as a captain as expected, who knows the selectors might ask him to take charge again in time for next Ashes and/or next world cup :-)

[Plum]

What is emerging is a Ponting with his pride/ego sufficiently knocked down so we amy end up seeing a likeable, well-performing Ponting now - miraculous as it seems!

[jinju]

Plum, he has mentioned in his statement that it is unlikely he will be playing till next Ashes/world cup.

[Plum]

jinj, aRiyAdha puLLaiyA irukkIngaLE. That is chatterjee, boss. Warne used to predict "Murali will get 1000 test wickets" at every possible opportunity. I used to think "nI edhukku ipdi solRannu enakku theriyumdi"

[Plum]

Jinj: Look at this:


What remains for Ponting is to concentrate again on his batting, offer advice to younger team-mates when it is sought or merited, and keep one eye on the distant goal of a final Ashes tour in 2013. "I would've liked to have won an Ashes series away, that would've been a nice thing to have done as a captain, and obviously sitting here now I've given up that opportunity to do that, that's something I would've loved to achieve," he said.
Ponting, however, has not set a time-frame for retirement and hoped that, with the burden of captaincy now off his back, he'd be able to perform better as a player.
"[2013] is probably unlikely but it depends how I play, I haven't put a finish date or time on when my international career's going to be over.
"To tell the honest truth I think the fact I'm not captain anymore might give me the chance of actually playing better.
"It'll just keep me a bit mentally fresher than I have been the last couple of years. I think if I'm mentally fresh and got my skills in reasonable order I think I'll be able to certainly bat better than I have in the past six months."

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZruCGBPujPo&feature=feedu

Ponting's Amazing run out compilation for 55 minutes. It includes almost every Int'l match run out that he has affected.

:clap:

[ajithfederer]

Sir Vivian Richards is there with Sachin or if not even a step higher. :).

Yes Tendulkar's numbers are staggering but Viv is phenomenal in the limited number of matches he played.

Tests - Sachin followed closely by Lara then Ponting
ODI - Sachin followed by daylight followed by Ponting followed by Lara

[sathya_1979]

Sir Vivian Richards is there with Sachin or if not even a step higher. :).

Yes Tendulkar's numbers are staggering but Viv is phenomenal in the limited number of matches he played.
I am talking about the contemporaries alone AF. Comparing players across eras is a futile exercise.

[lawmani]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZruCGBPujPo&feature=feedu

Ponting's Amazing run out compilation for 55 minutes. It includes almost every Int'l match run out that he has affected.

:clap:

Wow! Amazing video. Should be shown to aspiring cricketers before they start their training. Truly inspiring.

[Plum]

Tasmania-la oru mAdhiri rural areasla vaLarndha puLLa. mAnga adikkaRudhula gilli. The best fielder among the top batsmen of his era.

[SoftSword]

Tasmania-la oru mAdhiri rural areasla vaLarndha puLLa. mAnga adikkaRudhula gilli. The best fielder among the top batsmen of his era.

adhuvum poachaa... inimae velanguna maadhiri dhaan.

[VinodKumar's]

Stan , thanks for sharing that video.

:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:. He is generating the run outs out of no where. Oru oru thanum run out aagi poratha pakkurappa :(

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgE09i0R0HA&feature=channel_video_title

He should have done the same with Zaheer. Appo therinjirukkum. I can tolerate anything in cricket other than India losing to Australia in a test match.

[ajithfederer]

Finally somebody puts all the bhajji dismissals together in one video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O91bEvmwFP8&feature=channel_video_title

[ajithfederer]

Ricky ponting in facebook. Looks so to me. Some great photos there.

http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=81344972319#!/pages/Ricky-Ponting/81344972319

[ajithfederer]

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/11446_197273152319_81344972319_2969263_6151085_n.j pg

[ajithfederer]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/22450_246838887319_81344972319_3186961_5670482_n.j pg

[ajithfederer]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3757/56/118/81344972319/n81344972319_1756533_3308200.jpg

[ajithfederer]

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3757/56/118/81344972319/n81344972319_1756548_5296645.jpg

Apparently he was hit for a 6 it seems.

[littlemaster1982]

Never seen the personal side of him. Good pics :thumbsup:

[Plum]

All the best to Ricky Thomas Ponting for the Lanka tour. Shorn off the pesky leadership duties, one can expect the old, uninhibited Ricky Thomas to show up.
Rahul Dravid, hang on to the lead for now - RT is coming at you soon...

[wizzy]

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3757/56/118/81344972319/n81344972319_1756548_5296645.jpg

Apparently he was hit for a 6 it seems.
Dubya? http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/05/bushbowls_gallery__296x400.jpg

[Plum]

Ponting expertise in Demand (http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/525916.html)

[ajithfederer]

Some ricky Ponting pull shots


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX1yvFR-bJ4

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Gj0g7shRc

Pull of steve elwrothy where he hits the Pepsi board in WC 99.

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqSB_2DiXg

Pulls against shoaib akhtar are the best.

[ajithfederer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7cjIvERRW0&feature=related

This is the best of the lot. Ponting pulls akhtar at a 150k+ pace. Moved into position so quickly and just smacked the ball over midwicket. You can hear the commie saying Good Grief.

[Plum]

Ponting('s wife) expecting second child (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-ponting-will-run-early-if-baby-comes/story-e6frey50-1226109218837)


The hard man of Australian cricket melts in the company of his daughter.

"Fatherhood has been unbelievable and as it turned out it was Emmy's third birthday this week," he said. "We had a big party for her at home. It was the best day of my life the day that she was born.

"All sorts of things have happened during my cricket career, but nothing compares to becoming a father and seeing your young ones develop.

"She's at kindy now. Dropping her off and picking her up has been great.

"This break has really been a good opportunity to get a bit closer to her because, during the last couple of years, I've been away a lot.

"They sound like minor things, dropping her at kindy and picking her up, but it gives you a different sort of happiness.




a la gauthami in Thevar Magan
unakkuLlayum oru manushan irundhirukkAn Ricky...

[Plum]

The only hope for anti-England folks like me now is Ricky Ponting. Circumstances demand that I wish for Ricky's revival starting from this Lankan tour. I wish Ricky all success in this tour from the bottom of my heart. Since India cannot topple England, I think it is wise to start backing Australia so that they become strong by the next Ashes. Let's hope Ricky returns to form in Lanka, and then decimates Indian in Australia later this year. And hopefully, carries the form until the end of next Ashes and decimates England as well.

[ajithfederer]

I persuaded Dravid not to retire: Ponting

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00764/SRI_LANKA_AUSTRALIA_764481f.jpg

[ajithfederer]

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting claims that he persuaded Rahul Dravid against retiring when he was written off after a string of low scores last year and the in-form Indian batsman has reciprocated the support by inspiring him during his lean patch.

Dravid, the lone Indian batsman to perform well with three centuries and 461 runs in the team’s recent 0-4 Test whitewash at the hands of England, was woefully out of form last year and Ponting said he encouraged the veteran right-hander to carry on despite the criticism.

“I remember after our last series in India there was a lot of talk and speculation about Dravid being finished,” Ponting told ‘ESPNcricinfo’

“I actually went and found him at the end of the series and said ‘don’t you even think about retiring’ because I just saw some stuff in a few of his innings that suggested he was still a very, very good player.

“I just said ‘don’t let them wear you down, don’t let them get you down’ I received a similar text message before and after the Ashes from him as well,” he added.

The 36-year-old Ponting has not scored a Test century since January last year but he is confident of regaining his touch and he is looking upto Dravid for inspiration.

“There are a few (who provide an inspiration for batsmen of advancing years). Sachin (Tendulkar) and (Jacques) Kallis both had a great last year; Dravid is doing well now.

“It’s not only good for guys of my age to see guys doing that, it’s good for the younger blokes to see it as well; to know that if you keep doing the right things and working hard, and if you’ve got talent, then age is not a barrier in our game,” he said.

Speaking about the state of the game in general, Ponting said he is worried about the impact of Twenty20 on youngsters.

“The big worry I’ve had about Twenty20 cricket and even other shorter forms of the game being played at really developmental times in kids’ careers is that it won’t teach them the art of concentration.

“Cricket for me when I was growing up meant batting until someone got me out, and if that took them a week then that’s how long it took them,” he said.

“Now, even Under-17s and Under-19s are playing T20 games in national championships, and at the detriment of two-day games. Good state players these days are averaging 35; if you were averaging 35 when I was playing your dad would go and buy you a basketball or a footy and tell you to play that. So there are areas of concern there; I don’t know how you change them,” he explained.

Asked about India’s slide from the top of ICC rankings after the debacle in England, Ponting said it would be interesting to see how Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men do once the veterans retire.

“India still haven’t reached that point that I thought they’d get to yet. They’ve still got that crux, those great batters in that side. Time will tell with India now. Dravid was probably one who was in the gun before the rest of them and he’s found a way to come through,” he said.

“They (Tendulkar, Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman) are all about the same age and they won’t go on forever. They will be tested more than anything with their bowlers.

“I think we found even in the last few years that a lot of their spin bowling probably isn’t as strong as it used to be, and if you take Zaheer (Khan) out of their fast bowling stocks there’s not much left there either; so they’ve got an interesting couple of years ahead,” he added.

On whether India was focusing too much on Twenty20 and ignoring Tests, Ponting said, “They’re probably prioritising Twenty20 cricket as much as anyone aren’t they, with the IPL being based there and the commitment some players have to certain franchises and tournaments going on around that.”

“I reckon a good example of where their cricket is now is the fact they played R.P. Singh in that last Test match, when he hadn’t played a first-class game since January,” he explained.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article2396463.ece

[Plum]

Ricky the waterboy (http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/530170.html)

Ricky is doing everything to please the Cricketing Gods. See this:

Sri Lanka has been witness to some odd sights, featuring Ricky Ponting (http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/player/7133.html), so far. No longer the centre of attention, Ponting was seen running out with drinks during the tour match in Colombo
I cant imagine a senior Indian batsman doing this. VVS, anyone?


He speaks when spoken to, which means quite often in the case of his successor Michael Clarke, and also the young batsmen who are vying for a place at No. 6 - Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh. As the only member of the current team to have played Tests in Sri Lanka, seven in all, he has plenty of wisdom to pass on.
Senior Pro, pass on intelligence. Another box ticked!


I'll probably end up at bad-pad, Michael will probably have me in there somewhere I reckon when the spinners are bowling. I've always liked being involved in every ball basically. That's the way I've always approached fielding, if there's one little chance floating around through the course of a day's play, I want to make sure I have some impact on the game."
!!!! What humility! He'll field bat-pad!


I think the whole structure we've got around the group is working really well and I'm just happy to be playing my little part in it all."
Even if that little part is running out with the drinks.

Surely, the Cricketing Gods will reward him for this humility now?

EnglandukkedhiRA konjam nambikkai varudhu. Hope he is not left alone like Dravid when he plays England in the Ashes next. Clarke and others should complement him to take the fight to England.

[Plum]

Can Ponting do a Dravid? (http://thereversesweep.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/can-ricky-ponting-do-a-dravid.html)

Whilst we enjoyed England’s Ashes triumph over the winter as much as any long suffering England fan, the continued demonisation of Ricky Ponting by some of our fellow supporters left us a bit non-plussed and even a little queasy.
That’s not to say that we didn’t take some pleasure in seeing Ponting’s own struggles with the bat as the likes of Anderson and Tremlett executed their bowling plans to the Australian captain to absolute perfection.
But our gratification was all to do with our fear and respect for Ponting as the best Australian batsman since Bradman – we’d seen him punish England attacks too many times to not be wary of his talent.
However, we got the impression that the attitude of some England fans to Ponting bordered on hatred rather than fear and we found that a little bit disappointing and worryingly similar to the neanderthal behaviour exhibited by some of those that follow football.
Whilst Ponting’s competiveness and frustration at his own and his team’s woeful performances got the better of him in the unseemly row with Aleem Dar in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG (http://thereversesweep.typepad.com/blog/2010/12/the-boundary-view-melbourne-day-two.html), we couldn’t help but be impressed with the way he continued to front up to the cameras as the chasm between the sides widened. Not many cricketers would have been as honest, forthright and low on futile excuses as Ponting.
So, we will be willing him on to do well in the forthcoming Test series in Sri Lanka – his first since relinquishing the captaincy and wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a similar Indian summer in the autumn of his career to that of Sachin Tendulkar and now also Rahul Dravid.
It has been reported recently that on Australia’s brief tour to India last autumn, Ponting encouraged Dravid to forget his poor form and put any thoughts of retirement to the back of his mind. Since then Dravid has embarked on a golden run that of course culminated in his quite brilliant solo performances in England this summer.
It would therefore be almost perfect symmetry for Ponting to do something similar and show the world once again the master batsman he undoubtedly is. Lest it not be forgotten, Ponting is the third highest run scorer in Test history (Dravid having gone past him this summer).
With the cares of the captaincy cast aside (his decline with the bat mirrored the downturn in Australia’s fortunes), who would bet against him providing a lead to the younger batsmen and inspiring Australia on the long road to recovering its status within the ultimate form of the game?

[ajithfederer]

Ricky Ponting becomes the only player in cricket history to have played in 100 Test Match wins. An exemplary achievement and a model for other teams to emulate Australia and its most accomplished player of the last two decades.

:clap:

[ajithfederer]

Ponting already has the records of more Test and one-day victories as captain.

Not surprisingly, the top eight players on the list of Test victories are Australians, the Courier Mail reports.

The 36-year-old is followed by Shane Warne (92), Steve Waugh (86), Glenn McGrath (84), Adam Gilchrist (73), Mark Waugh (72), Matthew Hayden (71) and Justin Langer (70).

[ajithfederer]

What a team. Once in a lifetime ofcourse next only to the Windies but still I believe this team can stand shoulder to shoulder to them too, IMO.

[ajithfederer]

Thalaivar doled out drinks when he was injured during the 2nd test against Aus in 2004. I am not aware of other instances.

Ricky the waterboy (http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/530170.html)

Ricky is doing everything to please the Cricketing Gods. See this:

I cant imagine a senior Indian batsman doing this. VVS, anyone?


Senior Pro, pass on intelligence. Another box ticked!


!!!! What humility! He'll field bat-pad!



Surely, the Cricketing Gods will reward him for this humility now?

EnglandukkedhiRA konjam nambikkai varudhu. Hope he is not left alone like Dravid when he plays England in the Ashes next. Clarke and others should complement him to take the fight to England.

[P_R]

Can Ponting do a Dravid? (http://thereversesweep.typepad.com/blog/2011/08/can-ricky-ponting-do-a-dravid.html)


worryingly similar to the neanderthal behaviour exhibited by some of those that follow football. idhellAm thEvai illaama vambukku izhukkuRadhu

Aleem Dar-ai ketta vaarthaila thittunadhu ellAm low emphasis point, thing of the past aayiruchu. MakkaL, mannikkira mood-la irukkAnga.

[Plum]

Yes, yes. Rickykku cutouttu Stuart Broadukku getouttu