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Australian cricketers suggest their teammate and retired skipper, Ricky Ponting, to hang his boots with honour before he is axed disgracefully for his continuous lean patch.
The past greats like Shane Warne, Allan Border and Damien Fleming, who happened to rub shoulders with the most senior player of this time, collectively opine that Punter’s peak age is over now, so he must step down voluntarily in favour of some talented youngster.
Ponting has been out-of-form since the past couple of years. His last international century came in 2010. As a captain, he could not lead the team to defend their title in the ICC World Cup 2011. Following the showpiece tournament in the sub-continent, the Tasmania-born legend had to pass on the baton to Michael Clarke under severe pressure by the selectors and fans.
After Ponting experienced some of the worst batting slumps in two recent series against South Africa and New Zeeland, the Kangaroo cricket managers have almost decided to sideline him for the upcoming 4-Test home series against India.
Talking to the media today, Border said, “I think one of the old boys will go. I think Hussey or Ponting will go.”
Warne added, “He’s a great of the game, he’s been fantastic for Australian cricket.”
Fleming told, “Without putting a time limit on your career, you leave yourself open to this. If he said he wanted to play the summer six months ago I reckon the selectors would have gone with that. But he’s said before the Hobart Test that he wants to continue on. Well, his figures are making it really hard for him to get a game.”
Apart from this trio, some other superannuated players have also appealed to Punter to set aside from the game and spend rest of his life with esteem.
Ponting enjoyed great time in international cricket during the last decade. He captained the Oz side to win two consecutive World Cup editions in 2003 and 2007. He was also part of the squad which clinched the tournament’s 1999 version.
With 158 Test, 370 ODI and 17 T20I games to his name, the 36-year-old, like India’s Sachin Tendulkar, wants to hold on for the years to come.
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