Ponting admits his batting is on the wane
Source: Agencies |
December 30, 2010, Thursday
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HEART-BROKEN after failing to regain the Ashes, Ricky Ponting was forced to admit the captaincy issue was out of his hands and his powers with the bat may be on the wane.
Ponting, whose struggles with the bat have mirrored Australia's underwhelming campaign, became his country's first captain in 120 years to lose the Ashes three times.
"I guess the fact that I lost those three series is disappointing for me, hopefully I'm not only remembered as that guy, the guy that lost those three Ashes series," the 36-year-old told reporters. "As a player in the series I haven't achieved what I needed to achieve for the team to be in with a chance to win the Ashes back which I'm very disappointed about."
Ponting scored 10 and 20 in both innings in Melbourne and as Australia's bowlers were put to the sword in England's innings of 513, his frustration spilled over into a heated tirade against the umpires over a failed video review on Monday.
"I wish I knew," Ponting told reporters with furrowed brow, when asked to explain his form lapse. "I've trained the same way, I felt like I've been well prepared for every game.
"We've had four tests and eight innings, a few of those I probably felt I hadn't done a lot wrong to be dismissed. When you're having a run like I'm having at the moment, you tend to try and find ways of getting out and the game can just really grab hold of you and you feel like you're unlucky all the time."
Ponting has stuck barnacle-like to the No. 3 position for most of his career, but admitted that selector Greg Chappell had talked to him about a possible move down the order to No. 4 before the opening Brisbane test.
The notion was a "two-minute" conversation at the time, Ponting said, but conceded the following three tests had taken its toll.
"I guess there's been a few doubts creeping into my mind over the last couple of weeks, I'm not going to hide that," he said. "I definitely have to re-evaluate where I'm at as far as where I bat in a test match is concerned."
The free-scoring Usman Khawaja, an untried Pakistan-born cricketer, had been floated as his successor.
Speculation has been rife that the 36-year-old may step down as captain or skip next week's fifth and final match of the series to rest the broken finger he sustained in Perth.
Ponting made it clear the selectors would have to drag him out kicking and screaming.
"It's out of my control," he said.
"I've tried my hardest over the last few weeks to go play well and try to lead the team as well as possible.
"I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team and think I've got a lot to offer in both of those regards."
Ponting, whose struggles with the bat have mirrored Australia's underwhelming campaign, became his country's first captain in 120 years to lose the Ashes three times.
"I guess the fact that I lost those three series is disappointing for me, hopefully I'm not only remembered as that guy, the guy that lost those three Ashes series," the 36-year-old told reporters. "As a player in the series I haven't achieved what I needed to achieve for the team to be in with a chance to win the Ashes back which I'm very disappointed about."
Ponting scored 10 and 20 in both innings in Melbourne and as Australia's bowlers were put to the sword in England's innings of 513, his frustration spilled over into a heated tirade against the umpires over a failed video review on Monday.
"I wish I knew," Ponting told reporters with furrowed brow, when asked to explain his form lapse. "I've trained the same way, I felt like I've been well prepared for every game.
"We've had four tests and eight innings, a few of those I probably felt I hadn't done a lot wrong to be dismissed. When you're having a run like I'm having at the moment, you tend to try and find ways of getting out and the game can just really grab hold of you and you feel like you're unlucky all the time."
Ponting has stuck barnacle-like to the No. 3 position for most of his career, but admitted that selector Greg Chappell had talked to him about a possible move down the order to No. 4 before the opening Brisbane test.
The notion was a "two-minute" conversation at the time, Ponting said, but conceded the following three tests had taken its toll.
"I guess there's been a few doubts creeping into my mind over the last couple of weeks, I'm not going to hide that," he said. "I definitely have to re-evaluate where I'm at as far as where I bat in a test match is concerned."
The free-scoring Usman Khawaja, an untried Pakistan-born cricketer, had been floated as his successor.
Speculation has been rife that the 36-year-old may step down as captain or skip next week's fifth and final match of the series to rest the broken finger he sustained in Perth.
Ponting made it clear the selectors would have to drag him out kicking and screaming.
"It's out of my control," he said.
"I've tried my hardest over the last few weeks to go play well and try to lead the team as well as possible.
"I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team and think I've got a lot to offer in both of those regards."
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