Ponting dismisses talks of retirement
Source: Agencies |
March 24, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting yesterday ruled out retiring after the World Cup, defying the growing clamor for his removal.
"There has been some stuff... that I'm retiring after the World Cup. That's completely false, untrue," Ponting told reporters ahead of today's World Cup quarterfinal against India. "I'm enjoying my cricket as much as ever... I hope I will be playing for a few more years."
Ponting is the likely casualty if co-hosts India ends Australia's 12-year World Cup dominance today.
Former players and pundits have been urging the stubborn Tasmanian to step down since the test side's Ashes defeat to England on home soil in January. There were further calls for his resignation after the Australians lost to Pakistan in the World Cup group stages last Saturday, their first defeat in the 50-over competition since 1999.
Allrounder Brendon Julian, who played 25 one-day matches for Australia, said yesterday that Ponting should quit the one-day game but remain as test captain.
"He owes nothing more to one-day cricket ... I think it's an ideal time for him to step out of one-day cricket," Julian said. "I don't think he really needs to step down and keep playing for Australia (in one-day internationals).
"I think there are good enough players out there now that can step into that spot and do it quite well."
Julian's comments follow calls from former captain Ian Chappell, batsman Doug Walters and fast bowler Geoff Lawson for Ponting to fall on his sword.
Rarely a study in tranquillity at the best of times, the pressure has appeared to tell on Ponting, who was dismissed cheaply during the loss to Pakistan which ended Australia's record 34-match unbeaten streak.
"There has been some stuff... that I'm retiring after the World Cup. That's completely false, untrue," Ponting told reporters ahead of today's World Cup quarterfinal against India. "I'm enjoying my cricket as much as ever... I hope I will be playing for a few more years."
Ponting is the likely casualty if co-hosts India ends Australia's 12-year World Cup dominance today.
Former players and pundits have been urging the stubborn Tasmanian to step down since the test side's Ashes defeat to England on home soil in January. There were further calls for his resignation after the Australians lost to Pakistan in the World Cup group stages last Saturday, their first defeat in the 50-over competition since 1999.
Allrounder Brendon Julian, who played 25 one-day matches for Australia, said yesterday that Ponting should quit the one-day game but remain as test captain.
"He owes nothing more to one-day cricket ... I think it's an ideal time for him to step out of one-day cricket," Julian said. "I don't think he really needs to step down and keep playing for Australia (in one-day internationals).
"I think there are good enough players out there now that can step into that spot and do it quite well."
Julian's comments follow calls from former captain Ian Chappell, batsman Doug Walters and fast bowler Geoff Lawson for Ponting to fall on his sword.
Rarely a study in tranquillity at the best of times, the pressure has appeared to tell on Ponting, who was dismissed cheaply during the loss to Pakistan which ended Australia's record 34-match unbeaten streak.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
