Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting, AO, nicknamed Punter, is an Australian former cricketer who was captain of the Australia national cricket team during its 'golden era'; between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional bowler. Ponting holds the incredible record of being the only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to be a part of 100...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionCricket Player
Date of Birth19 December 1974
CityLaunceston, Australia
CountryAustralia
Every individual has got to put their hand up and stand up in a game that counts... There's no other option now, if guys can't get up for a game like the one we've got coming up, then they shouldn't be playing. I wouldn't think a batting change would come from outside the squad, and to tell the truth I don't think a bowling change would either.
The thing about our batsmen right now is it's not as if anyone is going through a lean trot. Guys are getting 20 and 30 and 40 and getting out, which is fairly unusual for our players, ... To win Test matches you have to have those big scores made. You have to make hundreds in Test cricket, that's what it's all about. They're just not doing that right now. There's no doubt we'll sit down and talk about some of the individuals, but I must admit I'd be surprised if any changes were made.
The older guys have been the ones who have performed the best, so how do you move them on?
A few of our guys in the side knew him a lot better than I did, Shane Warne being one of those. Shane was a pretty close friend of Kerry's, so it's an extremely sad day and it's a huge loss for the cricket community.
A lot of our guys are in good form, there's a good feeling around the team and if we get out there and start the test match well I'm sure South Africa will find it hard to beat us.
It is hypothetical to think about what could have happened because we didn't lose the game.
All I can say is that we handled conditions a lot better than they did.
He's another one who's game has developed a lot over the last couple of years,
He's a vital bowler, someone who's done exceptionally well for us and in big games, and that's what this is building up to be.
There's more happening in the 'papers than out on the field although there was a little bit of needle in Perth and there probably will be at different times her and in Sydney. But I think it's been done in a friendly way, at least that I know of, unless something happened out there today. But whatever happens on the field, you leave it there and get on with it.
That was probably what got my back up more than anything, was to have their coach standing on the balcony smiling at me once I was dismissed.
If you saw my face, I looked at the fielder and then turned straight to the bowler and said 'I'm 100% sure that didn't carry'. Otherwise I would have been off straight away.
I think they've just slightly had the edge over Sri Lanka and I think Sri Lanka probably rely on too few players and I think South Africa have got more depth.
The team the West Indies picked was fairly light on with their batting and we knew that if we made some early in-roads that we might be able to go through them reasonably quickly.