Cricket Australia just announced that Ricky Ponting is to stand down as captain!
By veganbliss
@veganbliss (3895)
Adelaide, Australia
March 29, 2011 12:07am CST
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/9053602/ponting-could-be-dumped-as-captain-report/
This could well be the final week of Ricky's nine year reign as skipper, although his position as a player remains safe at present. Ricky Ponting earned the dubious distinction of becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three times, putting him under enormous pressure. Pretty much every game he has played in officials are having issues him.
A poll was recently conducted on who should replace him as skipper for Australia. Over 40% of respondents agreed Michael Clarke should be captain next. About 20% want Mike Hussey for the top job, while 10% reckon Shane Watson should have a go. Who do you think should be captain? Are you glad to see the back of Ricky Ponting or should he stay on as captain?
2 people like this
4 responses
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
29 Mar 11
Well, guess who just started the discussion I was about to make! 
I nearly came straight to the computer when I heard it on the radio earlier today, but I was busy at the time! I am glad that you started it though. 
I think it is the right time for Ricky to stand down. There has been so much pressure on him recently and that must be a big relief for him now that the decision has been made. True, he did lose the Ashes and that one is going to haunt his career, but he also led the team to 16 Test wins in a row! He also led the team to most of 35 (I think it was) World Cup game victories in a row including the Two World Cups he was captain for. He also has Australia's most Test Runs ever and is second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the overall world list of most Test Runs! Even if he retired now, his career is highly distinguished!
I think that Michael Clarke should be given the job. He has the most experience as a captain in the team and is the most obvious choice.
I nearly came straight to the computer when I heard it on the radio earlier today, but I was busy at the time! I am glad that you started it though.
I think it is the right time for Ricky to stand down. There has been so much pressure on him recently and that must be a big relief for him now that the decision has been made. True, he did lose the Ashes and that one is going to haunt his career, but he also led the team to 16 Test wins in a row! He also led the team to most of 35 (I think it was) World Cup game victories in a row including the Two World Cups he was captain for. He also has Australia's most Test Runs ever and is second only to Sachin Tendulkar on the overall world list of most Test Runs! Even if he retired now, his career is highly distinguished!
I think that Michael Clarke should be given the job. He has the most experience as a captain in the team and is the most obvious choice.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
16 May 11
Thanks for the BR! 
I never received notification that you responded to this 2 months ago. I wonder how many other comments go unnoticed here that way. You think I run my discussions better? Well, I don't know about that, but thanks! 
I liked watching the Aussie team play a lot more in the 90's and most of the naughties. I did not follow the cricket much over the last summer. I found that my interest was not as high when a lot of the really great flamboyant players left. I found that I did not really know the new ones and sort of lost interest a bit. Perhaps this is due to myself being interested in other areas of life more than watching TV too. You do have to be really dedicated to the couch to watch a whole cricket game!
At the moment my TV watching is pretty much limited to one game of footy per week!
I never received notification that you responded to this 2 months ago. I wonder how many other comments go unnoticed here that way. You think I run my discussions better? Well, I don't know about that, but thanks!
I liked watching the Aussie team play a lot more in the 90's and most of the naughties. I did not follow the cricket much over the last summer. I found that my interest was not as high when a lot of the really great flamboyant players left. I found that I did not really know the new ones and sort of lost interest a bit. Perhaps this is due to myself being interested in other areas of life more than watching TV too. You do have to be really dedicated to the couch to watch a whole cricket game!
At the moment my TV watching is pretty much limited to one game of footy per week!@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
17 May 11
It was a close one for the BR!
I'll let My Lot members make that judgment - a ten out of ten star & a 47 ranking in cricket out of over 4000 says you must be doing something right!
Yes, win lose or draw, the Aussie Cricket Team was well worth watching during the 80's & 90's. It was the players too; they just don't make 'em like that anymore!
They're just getting into footy season now it seems. I'm not so much into football now anymore & just watch the news on ABC24. Now is that footy as in rugby or footy as in Aussie Rules? I'm guessing Aussie Rules. Hope your team has a good run up to the finals this year.
Yes, win lose or draw, the Aussie Cricket Team was well worth watching during the 80's & 90's. It was the players too; they just don't make 'em like that anymore!
They're just getting into footy season now it seems. I'm not so much into football now anymore & just watch the news on ABC24. Now is that footy as in rugby or footy as in Aussie Rules? I'm guessing Aussie Rules. Hope your team has a good run up to the finals this year. @RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
17 May 11
Well, I guess that does make me a cricket expert then!
Yep! Aussie Rules, you were right. It is the only brand of footy as far as I am concerned! I am a Collingwood supporter.
Yep! Aussie Rules, you were right. It is the only brand of footy as far as I am concerned! I am a Collingwood supporter.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Mar 11
Awww poor Ricky. In actual fact I admire the guy (and I'm English) lol. He's not been lucky lately, that's a given, but he's got the heart of a lion and never gives up. England's lucky streak has come to an end (as I knew it would) but to have someone like Ricky leading a team out, well, you can't get much better than that and I'm sad he's no longer captain.
No doubt we will lose our next game against Australia with some other Numpty in charge i.e. new Australian captain!
Haha!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Mar 11
You're welcome!
I've always been an admirer of the Australian cricket side and I think England have become more like how they used to be.. a kind of "never say die" attitude. Unfortunately, it eluded both sides in the World Cup but at least they can have a bit of a rest. Andrew Strauss is now spending some time with his family and he looked elated over it, bless 'im. They play so many matches now don't they?
Ricky Ponting hasn't been dropped altogether has he? I hope not as I reckon he'll play better now that he's no longer captain.
I've always been an admirer of the Australian cricket side and I think England have become more like how they used to be.. a kind of "never say die" attitude. Unfortunately, it eluded both sides in the World Cup but at least they can have a bit of a rest. Andrew Strauss is now spending some time with his family and he looked elated over it, bless 'im. They play so many matches now don't they?
Ricky Ponting hasn't been dropped altogether has he? I hope not as I reckon he'll play better now that he's no longer captain.@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
31 Mar 11
Ricky Ponting's position as a player is safe. And yes, he can go back to playing some really good cricket now, we hope. You are right too about more matches being played & televised. This must make it more stressful for the lads. Hope England does well in the near future. They are a fairly good team - at least as good as what they used to be when winning. It would be good to see them winning again - it has been a long time!
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
30 Mar 11
Thanks Janey; it's good to have an English perspective. I've heard Michael Clarke has the top job now. Y' never know how things will turn out; England has won against us recently & might be capable of doing it again! It's what keeps us all watching, I guess.
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
29 Mar 11
I think Cricket Australia has delayed their decision by around 4 years. I think they should have looked for a replacement for Ricky Ponting after the last world cup itself. I think as a captain he was not great as he thrived till the great players were around, once they went off, the team has generally struggled especially over the last 2 years. I expected this announcement as they would want the new captain to start on a winning note and Bangladesh is the right place to groom a replacement.
But the unfortunate part is I do not see a direct replacement available for Ponting in the current players. Cameron White is captain ship material, but his place in the team is not fixed!! Clarke and Hussey are not great choices looking at their past records.
Cheers!
Ram
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
30 Mar 11
I think from a captaincy perspective, eight years back I was a bit surprised that Ponting got the nod ahead of Gilchrist. I thought Gilchrist was a better captain for Australia at that moment when Steve Waugh stepped down. Next up, four years ago, I think White would have been an interesting choice at that moment itself as though he was not a regular in the Australian team, he was a better cricketing brain when it came to strategies. But the selectors then went for players who were regulars and in that Ponting was definitely the front runner.
Cheers!
Ram
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
29 Mar 11
Fair enough. Do you think there were better choices for captains around, say four years ago? Who would you have picked out for captain back then?
Cameron White is an interesting choice & hasn't come up yet. It has just been announced that Michael Clarke now has the top job. I wonder what the criteria for selection was?
Thanks for your input
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
31 Mar 11
Yes, things would have certainly turned out very different if Gilchrist were to be handed the top job! I'm not sure how the Board goes about choosing or promoting players, but I guess they have their reasons. Some good thinking there, Ram
@isloooboy (1733)
• United Arab Emirates
29 Mar 11
Well I think this is very bad example of board and other boards also do the same fashion but:-
Rickey Ponting is the person who lift their flag very high throughout his career so he deserve more than this junky decision. I hate when they forget the services of such a huge player and person who did such hard work in his life for his country.
Any board of the cricket playing nations must respect their players and provide respect which they deserve. There are so many good ways to do so......
I think they will go with Watson who can be captain for a long long time just like Ricky was.
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
29 Mar 11
Thanks for your comments & I appreciate your thoughtful response. I hope they do something to honour Ricky Ponting; how do they usually do it?
I'm not sure about the sort of criteria they go on to select a captain, so I guess it's a "wait & see" game. The poll isn't closed just yet, so I'll let you all know how it goes!
