Ponting at # 6

That's a good position for him.

PlanetPakistan wrote:That's a good position for him.

Aye...keep Khawaja, give Smith the flick & start looking for someone to replace Clarke.

Surely Steve Smith is not good enough to bat at #6

Ponting use to bat at #6 so why not start again?

PlanetPakistan wrote:
Ponting use to bat at #6 so why not start again?

he'll get sorted out by the spinners/2nd new ball (actually probably the first new ball still)

or - freed from the baggage of the skippers responsibilities, he may just return once more to the destroyer of attacks he used to be. Mostly, at 6 he'll be "in" by the time a new ball is taken.

This new lad Kwahaja looks a decent replacement in the number three berth. Seems very quick onto anything remotely loose ......

The number six spot is not a spot for a veteran of 150 tests. He should be batting no lower than five or not be in the team at all.

I've got a feeling he'll be looking for a County stint this coming Summer in an effort to show he's in form before Aus tour Sri Lanka in August.

Would any counties in particular be crying out for him to join?

Nath wrote:Would any counties in particular be crying out for him to join?

Realistically, I can't think of many counties (except Slurrey) who could afford Punter - times are hard!

Well in that case if he doesn't drop his asking price then he wont get any match practice before the Sri Lanka tour and he could miss out. Simple!

Ponting has nothing to offer the national team.

key for ponting is obviously his world cup form in the sub-con

Ponting is still, IMO, one of the six best batsmen in Oz. As such, he should drop himself one position down. Drop Clarke, drop Smith, drop Hughes.

I'd like to see him bat at 5 and concentrate on his batting without the pressures of captaincy.

Henry wrote:The number six spot is not a spot for a veteran of 150 tests.

Where did AB and SRW finish up batting at around the 150 Test mark. Sobers played his whole career where?

He could play at 5 if UK opens.

Zat wrote:

Henry wrote:The number six spot is not a spot for a veteran of 150 tests.

Where did AB and SRW finish up batting at around the 150 Test mark. Sobers played his whole career where?

they didnt really drop down at the end of their careers. they just played most of their career there

its a bit like viv going down to 6 for the windies

4 or 5 would probably be right for ponting

If he's not up to batting in the top 5 any more you have to wonder what he still offers the team that justifies them keeping him in, other than experience.

Of course he won't want to go out on this low note in terms of Test cricket but he's in danger of being remembered as much for the decline as for his key role in one of the best teams there has ever been. He was too young to retire at the same time as Warne and co. but looking back he might wish he'd gone a couple of years sooner, when they were still hanging onto top spot through momentum and winning habit.

if he left in 06-07 he would be looked upon as a coward who didnt want to help his country in their time of need

he may have failed in the last 4 years, but at least he gave it his all

beamer wrote:If he's not up to batting in the top 5 any more you have to wonder what he still offers the team that justifies them keeping him in, other than experience.

Of course he won't want to go out on this low note in terms of Test cricket but he's in danger of being remembered as much for the decline as for his key role in one of the best teams there has ever been. He was too young to retire at the same time as Warne and co. but looking back he might wish he'd gone a couple of years sooner, when they were still hanging onto top spot through momentum and winning habit.

That's part of the danger in judging someone just by batting average. Other players like Viv also carried on past their prime as they were still good enough to get in the team.

That's why someone with half a career like Hussey or Lehmann will tend to have a better batting average.

Border said last night he should go to 4 or 5.

Question for all those thinking he'd have been better off retiring after the last home Ashes in early 2007 .......

It may have been better for his pride and his average - but how much worse a state would the Australian side be in?

Jeez, they're struggling to replace the six that have gone .....

doremi wrote:Ponting is still, IMO, one of the six best batsmen in Oz. As such, he should drop himself one position down. Drop Clarke, drop Smith, drop Hughes.

Spot on.

JGK wrote:Border said last night he should go to 4 or 5.

Isn't AB a touch old for that these days?

Ponting should have lost the captaincy after the 2009 Ashes and been asked to concentrate on his batting, which was already showing signs of decline back then.

Yes. Yes indeed.