Ricky Ponting

Personal information
Full name	Ricky Thomas Ponting
Born	(1974-12-19) December 19, 1974 (age 49) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Nickname	Punter
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Batting	Right-hand
Bowling	Right-arm medium Right arm off break
Role	Batsman, Australian captain
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut	17 October 2008 v India
Last Test	6 November 2008 v India
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 4 5 Runs scored 266 365 Batting average 38.00 45.62 100s/50s 1/1 1/2 Top score 123 123 Balls bowled 12 12 Wickets 0 0 Bowling average – – 5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling – – Catches/stumpings 3/– 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 November 2009

Ricky Ponting captained the Australian cricket team on their four Test tour of India in 2008–09. On a tour that was unsuccessful on a whole, the tourists lost the Test series 2–0 to an Indian side led by Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while they drew two warm-up matches against the Centre of Excellence (non first-class match) and Indian Board President's XI. This was Ponting's first full tour of India as captain, after previously being injured for three of the four Tests when Australia last visited in 2004.

On previous Test tours of India in 1997–98, 2000–01 and 2004–05, Ponting struggled, especially against the off-spin from Harbhajan Singh, who had dismissed him on eight occasions in Tests. Ponting had only scored 172 runs in eight Tests and 14 innings in India, with a highest of 60—his only half-century in the country—and an average of 12.28, well below his career average of 58.53 prior to the series. However, in 11 home Tests against India, he had averaged 79.35.

Ponting's tour started well, scoring a half-century in the second tour match and a century in the opening Test. However, his performances diminished as his team began to struggle against an experienced Indian outfit. He managed only one other half-century for the series, totaling 266 runs at an average of 38, dropping his overall Test average to 57.58. In the final Test in Nagpur—in which Australia needed victory to level the series—Ponting was criticized for bowling part-time spin bowlers in an effort to increase the over rate, to avoid suspension and a fine. When the fast bowlers were re-introduced, the match was beyond Australia's grasp and India were eventual victors. These tactics were severely criticised in Australia.

Background and early tour

The series was the first time Ponting captained the Australians in a full Test series in India. He did not lead the Australian team to victory there in 2004–05 because he missed the first three Tests with injury. Adam Gilchrist took the Australians to a 2–1 victory. Australia, however, lost the fourth and final Test in Mumbai when Ponting returned. Nevertheless, this was Australia's first Test series win in India since 1969–70, in which Ponting made 11 and 12 on a controversial pitch.

Ponting and his team were under pressure leading into the series, following the spiteful confrontations during the Indian tour of Australia earlier in the year. He had also struggled in a previous three Test series during 2001, scoring 17 runs at 3.40. Ponting acknowledged prior to the series that he was keen to rectify his poor Test batting record in India, believed to be because of his weakness against spin bowling. Though, from 1 January 2004 up until the start of the first Test, Ponting scored 1510 runs and an average of 83.88 in 64 innings against spin bowling, thus being the only Australian to score more than 1,300 runs and average over 70.^[1]

Australia's bowling attack for the 2008–09 series was heavily under the microscope; in a traditionally spin-dominated country, they only had the uncapped Bryce McGain, Jason Krejza, and Cameron White, who was no longer a regular bowler in domestic cricket. Australia's tactics were questioned from the outset. When McGain was sent home injured and Krejza was heavily attacked by India's younger batsmen in a tour match, conceding 0/199 in 31 overs, he was subsequently omitted from the first three Tests, even though Ponting publicly claimed his confidence in his bowler. White played at No. 8, a specialist bowler's position, even though he played mostly as a batsman in first-class cricket. Although Ponting frequently extolled White in public, he often opted to use the part-time left arm orthodox spin of Michael Clarke more often and before White.

First Test

Australia headed into the First Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore with two previous wins at the venue—in 1998 and 2004—and a draw. Meanwhile, India had not won at the venue since 1995, and had only four victories in 17 attempts—their worst Test win–loss ratio at home venues.^[2] Pundits predicted the pitch would spin, while Ponting said, "It's [the pitch] obviously been watered yesterday afternoon, you can see that the pitch has changed a bit," Ponting said on the eve of the match. "I was speaking to Greg Chappell and he thinks it's the best one he's seen here in Bangalore. It's nice and hard so I'd imagine it would be a very good batting surface for the first couple of days. With the weather being as it is [overcast and humid] it might swing a bit more than usual. It will probably take until very late in the game before it starts to spin too much or have variable bounce." However, Sourav Ganguly had a different opinion, "This will turn obviously as the Test match goes on," he said. "But the Bangalore wicket has been a bit different over the years. It might get a bit up and down on the last two days. That's what happened against Pakistan last year. It must have settled down but I'm sure there's going to be spin for the bowlers."^[3]

Before the match Ponting thought Ganguly's impending retirement would put pressure on the rest of the team. "There's no doubt that yesterday afternoon and today the Indian team would have faced pressure of different distractions than they're used to. Everyone would have wanted to talk about Sourav's retirement. They'll be facing that now for the next four weeks."^[4] Ponting also wanted Australia to expose the locals' poor fielding, "I really think we can take them on in the field, almost a new-age type of Test cricket that can make a few of their guys look a bit old and a bit slow," he said.^[5]

Australia won the toss and batted, and Ponting was brought to the middle in the opening over, after Matthew Hayden was caught behind for a duck. He started slowly, scoring two from 17 balls, before driving Ishant Sharma for a boundary. Harbhajan Singh had already sent down 2.3 overs before he delivered his first ball to Ponting in the 17th over. The big screen at the ground flashed, "Ponting has been dismissed by Harbhajan eight times in Test cricket." Nevertheless, Ponting turned the first ball from his nemesis off his pads for a boundary.^[6] From then on Ponting increased his strike rate, reaching his half-century in 102 balls, when he hit Zaheer Khan for a boundary through cover.^[7] His partnership with Simon Katich ended on 166, when Katich was caught by Dhoni, after lasting more than 54 overs. He and Michael Clarke built on the good start with 60 runs in 24 overs, before Clarke was dismissed.^[8] Ponting brought up his century a short while later when cut Kumble through backward point for three. He eventually fell on 126 from 243 balls (13 fours), when he missed a sweep off Harbhajan, reducing Australia to 3/226.^[9][10]

After stumps, with Australia at 4/254, Ponting was happy with his performance, "I'm as pleased with that innings as I probably have been with any innings I've ever played," he said. "I'd played eight Tests here before with a highest score of 60, so I had some work to do. I had a point to prove to a few people as well. It was satisfying today." I've been working really hard," Ponting said on his technique. "I've made no secret of it, my record here has been poor. Today is one step in the right direction. It was nice to get some runs out there and put the team in a good position. But one innings doesn't make a tour. The other tours I've had here, apart from the last Test I played, I've batted at six, always coming in against spin and when the wicket has worn. One thing that stands out in my career is whenever I've been in early, with the team in a bit of trouble, I've managed to make runs."^[9]

Australia were bowled out for 430 shortly after tea on the second day. Michael Hussey scored his ninth Test century^[11] before the tourists tail folded. Australia had the hosts seven wickets down in their first innings—still more than 320 runs in arrears—before Harbhajan and Khan combined for an 80 run partnership late on day three. The last three Indian wickets cost the tourists 128 runs; "negating a clear advantage we had earned through some excellent between the wickets," according to Ponting. Mitchell Johnson finished the innings with four wickets, while Shane Watson captured three in India's final total of 360.^[11] Ponting wrote:

We should have been more patient in our approach when we couldn't get those crucial late wickets in India's innings. Our quicks tried to blast Harbhajan and Zaheer out, but on such a slow wicket that strategy was inappropriate and all we did was give these two experienced cricketers—both of whom thrive on a bit of success but who in the past have gone missing when times were tough—a chance to swing themselves into some form. Soon, they were strutting around like a pair of wrestlers, the crowd went along with them, and on this occasion we weren't good enough to arrest the change in momentum. It's amazing how once a tail starts wagging it keeps wagging; giving late-order batsmen a bit of confidence is always a dangerous thing to do.^[12]

In Australia's second innings, Ponting joined Katich in the 13th over, after Hayden was dismissed. Ponting lasted 34 balls, before he was caught a short mid-wicket from a Sharma slower ball on 17. Beforehand, the Australian captain was "targeted" by Harbhajan "with men crowded around the bat." Australia declared on 228 on the final day; however India survived, enforcing a draw.^[10][13]

After the match, Indian opening bowler Zaheer Khan questioned whether Australia could take 20 wickets in a match. "They know they can't take 20 wickets and they are on the back foot," Khan said. "They couldn't get me or Bhajji [Harbhajan Singh] out. So we are in with a big chance. They are under pressure – we know that. So we are looking ahead at the second game." He also attacked Australia's defensive approach, "I have never seen an Australian team play such defensive cricket, which is a good thing for us." Ponting responded by saying, "I don't know what he means, to tell the truth. We were the only ones trying to take the game forward. We played aggressive cricket. He can have a little bit of a chuckle on the inside at what he's had to say. I don't think it means too much to us."^[14]

Despite Zaheer's comments on Australian spinners, Ponting said the debutant Cameron White exceeded expectations. "He's come along in leaps and bounds in his bowling. He's probably exceeded my expectations with what he's done, although he didn't take the wickets. He also defended wicket-keeper Brad Haddin who conceded 39 byes, "On that wicket it was really difficult with so many balls bouncing in front of him.^[15]

Second Test

Prior to the Second Test starting on 17 October in Mohali, Australian opening batsman Phil Jaques (who did not play in the opening Test) was sent home after failing to overcome a back injury. He was replaced in the squad by Shaun Marsh, who opened the batting in the recently concluded One Day Internationals against the West Indies and had been the leading run-scorer in the 2008 Indian Premier League.^[16] Victorian fast-bowler Peter Siddle made his international debut, after Stuart Clark injured his elbow. Even with the two injuries, Ponting expected a good showing from the Australians, "There was a lot made of the inexperience factor coming here, but all those inexperienced guys showed they are more than capable of performing well at international level," Ponting said. "There's no doubt it's easier for us guys who have played a bit, particularly in this part of the world." Ponting said Siddle was a "no-nonsense guy and a no-nonsense sort of bowler". "He's got good pace and a good presence. "He will keep running in for you. He bowled beautifully in the nets [on Wednesday] and I just like the way he goes about it." Ponting himself was forced to take anti-inflammatory tablets, after surgery before the series.^[17]

Heavy rains interrupted pitch preparations for the Test, and curator Daljit Singh said, "Heavy rains came down as recently as 4 October and water, two and a half feet deep, collected on the surface which initially affected our ground preparations." The tourists had never played a Test at the venue; however, Indian batsmen Laxman, Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar all averaged over 50 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.^[18][19]

Winning the toss and batting, India reached 5/311 by stumps on the opening day, and despite the rain, the pitch was flat with "hardly any swing or movement", enabling the batsmen to hit through the line of the ball. During the day, Sachin Tendulkar became Test cricket's highest run-scorer when he steered a Siddle delivery down to third-man for three. He overtook former West Indian batsman Brian Lara's previous record of 11,953 runs.^[20] On the batsman's achievement, Ponting wrote:

The crowd was very disappointing on that first day, considering he was such a big chance to get the runs he needed, but those who were there—many of them school kids—made a lot of noise, while on the field we were all quick to congratulate the new record holder. I think I might have been the first to shake his hand. I've always had the highest regard for Sachin as a cricketer and person, even if in one way I don't have too many great memories of him, because he tends to score so heavily against us. He is a true champion, one of the all-time-greats, and reaching this milestone is a fantastic reward for all he has done for the game.^[21]

India were bowled out for 469 on the second day, after Ganguly scored his 16th and last Test century. Hayden was bowled for a third-ball duck, while Ponting was trapped lbw by a Sharma off cutter for five, as Australia collapsed to 5/58 and then 8/144 in their first innings reply. Shane Watson and Brett Lee combined for 73 eight wicket partnership, helping Australia reach a meagre 268. In the home-side's second innings, Ponting was criticised for using part-timers against the free-scoring Indian batsmen after he was informed that he was five overs behind the required over rate, which is penalisable by a fine, or in severe instances, a ban to the captain. This meant that he was not able to use pace spearhead Brett Lee significantly.^[22] A long discussion between Lee and Ponting prompted media allegations of a team rift, something Ponting denied. "It seems like there are people trying to make a bit more of that than what it actually was," Ponting said after his team's defeat. "I made Brett aware he wasn't going to bowl first-thing in the morning. I let him know we were wanting to take pace off the ball." Where it fell down a bit is I didn't communicate those reasons to Brett at 11am when he wanted to bowl. I made it clear to him from that moment on of those reasons."^[23] After India declared on 3/314 with just over four sessions of play remaining, Australia were bowled out for 195 on the fifth morning, with Ponting's off stump knocked out of the ground by another Sharma off cutter for just 2, as India completed a 320 run victory.^[24] After the match, off-spinner Jason Krejza was expected to come into calculations for the Third Test, although former Australian captain Steve Waugh, wrote in The Hindu, " ... we must be patient with Cameron White. After all, he has just started his career and it's too early to jump to conclusions. However, I was surprised that Beau Casson, who was pretty good in the West Indies, did not make this tour."^[25]

Third Test

The Third Test in Delhi saw a flat pitch, labeled as a going away "present" for Anil Kumble who previously had success at the ground, when he became the second player to take a ten-wicket innings haul. After Australia's comprehensive defeat in Mohali, the team trained "the best" Ponting had "seen for a long time". The extended efforts failed to help Ponting's men, as India amassed 7/613 in its first innings, while Delhi smog—left over from Diwali festivals—created an unusual atmosphere. Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman both scored double centuries—the first time two batsmen have reached 200 in the same Test innings against Australia—and Ponting even resorted to bowling himself for two unsuccessful overs.^[26][27]

In reply Australia started strongly, with Ponting having to wait until 123 runs were scored before walking out to bat on the third day. After surviving a spell reverse-swing bowling from Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan, Ponting was bowled through the gate from a sharp turning delivery from part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag. Ponting and out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden partnered for a cautious 79-run compilation, as both looked to survive on a pitch that was becoming lower and slower. Ponting was more cautious against Sharma than usual, scoring only nine from 26 balls from the tall right-armer quick. Nevertheless, he was more aggressive and assured against spinners Amit Mishra and Sehwag, where he scored 35 from 60 and 17 from 32 deliveries respectively.^[28] During the early stage of his innings, a swarm of bees interrupted the match when they forced the players and officials to lie on the ground, before they moved on.^[29] After surviving four dropped catches, Michael Clarke scored his eight Test century in during Australia's highest Test score in India—577—as Sehwag took a career best five wickets in the absence of fellow spinners Harbhajan Singh and Kumble who left the field with a finger injury. India lost two late Indian wickets on the fourth evening and were reduced to 4/93 on the fifth morning; however the match ended in a tame draw, with the home side declaring on 5/208, setting Australia an unrealistic target of 245 in the final session. They finished on 31 without loss, before the match was declared a draw, resulting in Australia needing victory in the final Test to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.^[27][30]

Kumble announced his retirement on the final day on the Test, taking the spotlight away from a verbal clash between Gambhir and Shane Watson. Gambhir was eventually suspended for the final Test, after video evidence showed he elbowed Watson while batting.^[31] Gambhir also clashed with Katich near stumps on the first day, while the usually carm Laxman had a run-in with Australian fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson. "There was no real malice from anything Mitchell had to say," Ponting said. "It was about some of the comments that VVS had made in the newspapers [about Australia's defensive approach], to tell the truth. That was all he was talking about. The umpires spoke to me and said it happened three times in the over, I think, and it wasn't acceptable. So I spoke to Mitchell at the break and that was it." Ponting responded the claims of Australia being defensive by saying, "They had a chance to set up a game [on day five] and chose not to. So who do you call defensive? It's easier to say those things when you're in front, but I didn't see them saying too much in Bangalore.^[32]

Fourth Test

With Australia needing to win the Fourth Test, Jason Krejza was selected for his Australian debut. The match was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, which was making its debut as an international venue. Previous matches in the city were played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground and both teams were unsure how the pitch would play, as the match was also the first first-class match to be played at the stadium. Nevertheless, Ponting described said the pitch was grassless and hard as concrete. Ponting understood the importance of the match, "This is probably as big a Test match as a lot of us have played." He said. "Being 1–0 down with a match to play is a position that a lot of us haven't been in before. We pride ourselves on playing well in big games, and this is certainly a big game for us. There is a great opportunity for us to stand up, and play better cricket than we've played in the first three Test matches." Throughout the first three Tests, Australian bowlers struggled to take wickets, managing 38 wickets at an average of 53.61.^[33]

After losing the toss, Australia were sent into field. Their bowling attack again struggled to be effective, with Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 40th Test century (10th against Australia) and VVS Laxman compiling a slow 64. The only highlight for the Australian was Krejza's 8/215 from 43.5 overs, as India amassed 445. The off-spinners figures was the second best by an Australian on debut in Test history. Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich started quickly for Australia, reaching 32 in the seventh over, before Hayden was run-out.^[34] Ponting played freely, scoring 11 runs from the final three balls of an Ishant Sharma over. However in the following over he was clean bowled for 24 (41 balls) by a Harbhajan Singh delivery that that spun and left him cramped for room while trying to cut. This was the tenth occasion he had been dismissed by Harbhajan in Tests.^[35]

On the fourth afternoon of the Fourth Test, the Indian batting collapsed, and Australia had an opportunity to bowl them out and chase a target of around 250–300 after the tea break.^[36] However, the Australians were a long way behind on their over rate, so in order to avoid a one match suspension, Ponting chose to bowl their part-time spinners and medium pacers such as Michael Clarke, Cameron White and Mike Hussey (who were all unsuccessful in capturing a wicket), as they took less time. In the meantime, captain MS Dhoni and Harbhajan both added half centuries. This drew strong criticism from many commentators, who suggested that their faster bowlers, who had been responsible for the collapse, could have bowled from a shorter run-up. When the fast bowlers were reintroduced, the last four wickets fell quickly. This left Australia with 382 runs for victory and Ponting fell cheaply after attempting to take a quick single down the ground and being run out by a direct hit from Mishra at the non-striker's end. Australia lost by 172 runs to cede the series 2–0. In the first innings, Ponting became Harbhajan's 300th Test wicket. He ended the series with 264 runs at 37.71. While below his career standards, it was substantially better than his previous Test efforts in India.^[37]

Ponting escaped without suspension for slow over rates, although he received a fine. Nevertheless, he failed to redress the matter during the subsequent home series against New Zealand, when match referee Chris Broad dealt a second successive fine for being three overs behind in the First Test. Ponting was subsequently stripped of thirty per cent of his A$12,750 match fee, twice the punishment of his team-mates in accordance with International Cricket Council rules for captains.^[38] Australia were largely untroubled by New Zealand, sweeping both Tests. Ponting scored only 100 runs at 33.33.^[39]

Aftermath

Ponting was severely criticised for using the part-time bowlers ahead of his frontline men. Respected media analyst Peter Roebuck wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, "In one of the most baffling displays of captaincy seen in the long and proud history of Australian cricket, Ricky Ponting has denied his side a deserved chance of securing a famous victory. Rather than pressing home an advantage secured by dint of outstanding swing bowling and inspired spin in a fraught and fascinating afternoon session, the Australian captain preferred to use part-timers. Presumably, it was an attempt to improve an ailing over rate. Perhaps he was worried about missing the next match. Both issues pale into insignificance besides trying with every power at his disposal to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There was a match to win. To an almost bizarre degree, Ponting lost the plot."^[40]

"Over 131 years, 404 men have been accorded to the honour of wearing the baggy green cap, arguably the most significant and recognizable symbol in Australian team sport," wrote Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) Glenn Mitchell. "Many today would have hung their head in sadness while others would have turned and in their grave. What happened today in Nagpur was at odds with team sport is all about. May it never be allowed to happen again." The barrage of Ponting's decision continued, with then Australian leading Test run-scorer (since overtaken by Ponting) saying on Fox Sports, "I don't know what to make of this. They go into the tea break on a high and come out worrying about over-rates. I am glad Ricky can't read my mind right now because he is not going to like it." Ponting later admitted that Border's comment was the one that hurt him the most, despite News Limited reporter Jon Pierik describing his captaincy as a "joke", while Malcolm Conn from The Australian wrote it was his "worst day as national captain". Indian newspapers also continued with the criticism, with some suggesting Ponting put himself before the team.^[41] Ponting angrily responded to such comments at the post-Test media conference.

To tell you the truth, I am disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains and Cricket Australia board members. As captain of the Australian cricket team, I feel I have a responsibility to play the game in the right spirit. I have an obligation to bowl 90 overs in a day's play and the way we were heading, if the quicks had continued we would have been maybe 12 overs down ... Everyone has an opinion on the way I captain the team or the way the team plays, but the thing I am most disappointed about is this inference out there that I put myself totally ahead of the team. Anybody who knows me or the way I play my cricket or how I operate around the Australian team would hopefully not say that this is the case ...^[42]

Notes

References

• Ricky Ponting (2009). Captain's Diary 2009. HarperCollins Publishers Australia. ISBN 978-0-7322-8957-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)