Rise and fall of Ponting by D. Giridhar

---

Player:	RT Ponting
Event:	ICC World Cup 2010/11

---

DateLine: 1st April 2011

 

It was an emotional day for Australian Cricket on 29th March 2011 when Ricky Ponting quit as Australia's One-day and Test captain, bowing to pressure, after his team's quarter final exit from the World Cup.

 

He had led Australia in more than 300 one-day and Test matches and most pundits consider he was right in deciding to step down owing to moral responsibility. Ponting had suffered three Ashes defeats and the World Cup quarter final loss to India ending a 12-year reign as the leader of a Champion Team. His move comes within the first three months after the latest Ashes loss which brought strident calls for change from the media and fans.

 

Ponting was under immense pressure after earning the dubious distinction of becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three times in a row.

 

Setting aside these recent failures, Ponting had been a great inspirational leader who took over the reigns from Steve Waugh and led Aussies to two World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007 and was proud to handle great players in his team including Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Hayden who were the stalwarts of Australia's great run. His prowess as a captain such that he was able to immediately adapt to retirements of these players one after another and was able lead the Aussies as a cohesive unit.

 

Ponting stands out as one of the Australian greats and was the most successful Test captain and leading Test run scorer with 12,363 runs in 152 Tests at an average of 53.52 and 13288 runs in 359 One-day internationals. He has won 48 Tests as captain and 164 One-day internationals.

 

To conclude, I salute Ricky Ponting for his glorious run and one of the best Australian batsman to wear the Baggy Green Cap.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2011 D. Giridhar)