Ponting as Captain?

[The_Bay_Boy]

have we all forgotten about Gilly?????

I think if ponting wasn't captain, Adam Gilchrist would be the first pick for me.

[Magpiespower]

This thread in un-freakin-believable!

Punter lost me when he tried to pass the buck on the Ashes loss.

Something along the lines of "when we win, the team gets the credit, so when we lose, they should take the blame, too."

Can imagine what Ian Chappell would say to that.

Anyway, the Australian captaincy belongs with our best batsman, not with a bowler or wicketkeeper - it's too much.

BTW, I think Australia dropped something close to 16 catches during the Ashes series.

[duncs7]

Dont mind Hayden at 2nd slip next 2 Warne.

[Dog_ger]

Pont's captaincy is going to come under the microscope if we loose the first south african test. Dummy spit time...?

[Rik E Boy]

Duncs. I thought Australia fielded very well yesterday. Ponting, Symonds and Langer where all very good.

regards,

REB

[Magpiespower]

Symonds

WTF is this bad smell hanging around for?

[Rik E Boy]

Symonds

WTF is this bad smell hanging around for?

This one has been discussed Mappa. Symo is in the side because Watson broke down and Australia was traumatised by allround abilities of Freddie Flintosser. Unfortunately for Symo, he hasn't harnessed the right batting tempo as yet in Test cricket but if he can he will be a worthy contributor to the side..his fielding is excellent but his bowling hardly looks threatening at Test level. Symo is 'hanging around' because Australia has no genuine allrounders.

regards,

REB

[duncs7]

No doubt our feilding was down in the ashes.
I was sort of thinking more one dayers, i dont have the attention span to be fully into Tests!!
When we are switched on noone can compare with us in the feild.

[Dog_ger]

Also on the ashes tour, Ooh Ahhh Glen McGrath rolled an ankle messing around playing Aussie Rules and missed 2 test matches...! What would have been the result if he was available for the full series..?

[Rik E Boy]

A late declaration, misreading the light situation last night, antagonising the umpires with a rather petulant display. Sadly Ricky's captaincy does not appear to be improving.

regards,

REB

[Punk Rooster]

The Advertiser is quite scathing of Ponting's captaincy (prob same story is circulating all national papers), & you have to agree. My problem is though, I feel Ponting is the closest thing we've got to a captain. I think the board have to back him as captain, & hopefully he can improve. Then again, the areas I feel he need's to improve in, are instinct based. So therefore, if someone just hasn't got the instinct required, it's probably not something that can be instilled in someone.

[Rik E Boy]

Not too sure about instinct being inherent Punkybrooster. Usually you can acquire/improve your feel for captaincy with experience.

It was predictable that the media would jump on Punter's back with the first test ending in a draw and I thought the declaration was late myself, but he did leave the bowlers ample time to bowl out the Proteas in the second dig. McGrath is just going at the moment and Bracken and to a lesser extent Lee were blunted somewhat by a track that just didn't carry through to the slips cordon. As good as Warney is you can't expect him to do it EVERY time and to their credit South Africa batted really well. They have proven themselves to be a decent side and are probably a couple of bowlers short of being a top combination (no spinner and they lack variety in their attack).

For me Punter's biggest clanger was his lack of imagination. Symond's offspin or even Punter or Hodge could have been brought into the attack just to get the Proteas playing shots again. After all, they had shitloads of runs to play with.

Punter's captaincy is still way ahead of the standard of journalism in the Carptiser.

regards,

REB

[Punk Rooster]

Not too sure about instinct being inherent Punkybrooster. Usually you can acquire/improve your feel for captaincy with experience.

I meant that it's something he needs to learn within himself, through experience. It's not something John Buchanan can teach him with a laptop.

I didn't agree with everything the Crows newsletter said, but I agree that his captaincy overall was a bit suspect. He is unlucky in a way though, as that's gotta be one of best innings played in a long time, by Rudolph. I rate that better than any double century. It was chanceless & very disciplined. Almost man of the match stuff, considering the pressure.

[Magpiespower]

Good article by Mike Coward in today's Australian about this.

[duncs7]

If Symonds is penned as a all rounder, Why wasnt he used when the game was heading 4 the draw. perfect time 2 give him a decent go. No runs 2 worry about, main bowlers not even looking threatening?
I thought that was bad captaincy.

[Dog_ger]

Agreed Dunks, couldn't understand why Symmo wasn't tried as a bowler after lunch on the last day..? A captain in that situation would try the wickey to throw a few down for the chance to break the partnership..? Still, how easy it is to find fault being an armchair champion....? Ponts will be better for the experience..! Back the Man...!

[Jman]

Ponting can come accross as arrogant sometimes. But he has played in a successful team since he entered international cricket and i bet he doesn't want to be the captain who see's Australia fall.
I think he should remain captain as he will learn from mistakes and is at the right age to do so for a few more years.
However he probably wont be blessed with the 2 greatest bolwers in the history of the game- Warne and Mcgrath.
I have felt honoured to grow up watching these 2 great cricketers they are the reason we have dominated over the last decade or so.
Taylor and Steve Waugh had the luxury of having these 2 men in their prime, ponting does not it will be harder for him.
I say play Phil Jacques as the opener, bring back Clarkie, forget this rubbish about an allrounder there just simple anyone good enough to do it. Also when Tait's fit he should be placed back into the test team a good young talent.
Watch out for Cullen, Cosgrove and possible Ferguson to hopefully get a chance at international level in the next few years.

[Rik E Boy]

Bloody typical SA bias, honestly a chap from NSW has no hope at all of making the squad...

regards.

REB

[duncs7]

[quote="Jman!!!"]
However he probably wont be blessed with the 2 greatest bolwers in the history of the game- Warne and Mcgrath.
I have felt honoured to grow up watching these 2 great cricketers they are the reason we have dominated over the last decade or so.
Taylor and Steve Waugh had the luxury of having these 2 men in their prime, ponting does not it will be harder for him.

I would say Warne is in his prime now, wouldnt u?

[Jman]

However he probably wont be blessed with the 2 greatest bolwers in the history of the game- Warne and Mcgrath.
I have felt honoured to grow up watching these 2 great cricketers they are the reason we have dominated over the last decade or so.
Taylor and Steve Waugh had the luxury of having these 2 men in their prime, ponting does not it will be harder for him.

I would say Warne is in his prime now, wouldnt u?

Fair call he probably still is in his prime, leaving the one day game has helped him.
However he is nearer to retirement to and I think the selectors need to be careful not to have all our great players leave the team at once.
Personally believe it would be great to see Mcgrath and Warne win us back the Ashes next year on home soil, maybe a fairytale end to their careers.