Ponting's ODI future...

He has not made an international hundred in over a year. Across all forms of the game, this means 37 innings. And that hundred was against a very weak West Indies in an ODI (February 2010).

This is not his first such dry spell, from December 2003 he went 43 international innings without a century.

Then he averaged a touch over 40. Since February last year, his international average is 28.3

He has a maximum of three more matches at this World Cup.

Should he be kept on as captain of the ODI team?

When should Australia's preparation for the 2015 event (to be held at home) begin?

As it is extremely unlikely that he will be a part of that campaign, it really is time for the tap on the shoulder, isn't it?

I reckon, as we clearly have no chance the way we are going in this WC, we make the kiddy captain for the QF and see if the idiot tozzie's batting improves when he doesn't have the impost of having to think

He plays his last game later this week.

There is NO reason for him to continue on. Clarke is as old as Ponting was when he took over the JAMODI captaincy.

Ponting retires from JAMODIs after the World Cup, and retires completely after the India Test series at home.

I think this will almost certainly be his last tournament as ODI captain, but even his test future is not certain. Looking at his behaviour on the field, he is clearly a troubled man, struggling to accept his cricketing mortality.

Henry wrote:Looking at his behaviour on the field, he is clearly a troubled man, struggling to accept his cricketing morality.

Fixed.

Sack him now.

We did OK without him against Engalnd.

Sometimes I think Ponting feels he's bigger than the game. When he was asked the other day if he would tour Bangladesh next month with the ODI side, he said something along the lines of "I'm definitely going, because I need to play more cricket". Never mind the fact that he's not making runs and the Aus selectors will more than likely want to have a look at some young players on that trip. It was all about him.

Nath wrote:Ponting retires from JAMODIs after the World Cup, and retires completely after the India Test series at home.

Jesus Nath. Do you really want to lose three out of the last four home series.

If Australia don't win the World Cup, then I reckon it's the end of Ponting's career.

Bradman wrote:

Nath wrote:Ponting retires from JAMODIs after the World Cup, and retires completely after the India Test series at home.

Jesus Nath. Do you really want to lose three out of the last four home series.

Not what I want to happen (obviously)

I think I mentioned this sometime back after the Ashes loss in England that he should have quit captaincy and should have focussed on his batting alone. That would have prolonged his career by 3 years at least as the cares of the captaincy and his stubbornness to see the same has accelerated his decline. I'd reckon he still has 2 years of solid test cricket and runs in him if only he can see beyond his captaincy on how he could still serve as a player. A good place to start is giving up both captaincy and one day cricket.

Batman wrote:I think I mentioned this sometime back after the Ashes loss in England that he should have quit captaincy and should have focussed on his batting alone. That would have prolonged his career by 3 years at least as the cares of the captaincy and his stubbornness to see the same has accelerated his decline. I'd reckon he still has 2 years of solid test cricket and runs in him if only he can see beyond his captaincy on how he could still serve as a player. A good place to start is giving up both captaincy and one day cricket.

Batty, he's gone, in all departments.

Go & play golf Rick. I have no interest in seeing your face or hearing any kind of sound coming from you.

Is there one of those poxy Champions Trophy tournaments in the next 18 months?

If not ....show him the door ...

Plus Haddin ...Plus Hussey (x2) ...plus Lee

Hard to argue with any of the sentiments. His form is farked, his attitude is farked, his head is farked. Ooroo.

embee wrote:Is there one of those poxy Champions Trophy tournaments in the next 18 months?

If not ....show him the door ...

Plus Haddin ...Plus Hussey (x2) ...plus Lee

Except they've been your best (or at least most consistent) players at ODI level.

I reckon an almost unrecogisable Aus ODI team will face the Bangers next month.

Something like-

Paine+(c)
Finch
Bailey
Ferguson
S.Marsh
M.Marsh
Butterworth
Lyon
J.Pattinson
Cummins

If they're bold and decide it really is time for Aus to move on to a new era. And they'll also want to rest the likes of Watson after such a hectic schedule recently.

A tour of Bangladesh is a good chance to test out out your reserve options, including your reserve captains as England did when they toured there recently and Strauss and Anderson were rested

With the possible exception of someone with the initials LJH, whom God preserve, Punter must be about the most hated figure with Ozzie forummers here and, if Oz exits the WC on Thursday (the first time an Australian side has failed to reach the Final since 1992 when they lost to NZ, SA, England and Pakistan) he will probably become the most hated man in Australia.

Unless he steps down voluntarily it is difficult to see a more appropriate time for the selectors to enforce a change at the top after two Ashes losses home and away (or rather vice versa) and a probable WC exit. Any football manager will tell you that hanging onto players past their sell-by dates because of former triumphs is as bad as ejecting experienced players who may have some mileage left in them (which is why I cautioned against omitting the likes of Haddin and the Husseys above).

However, given his current "Mr Angry" mode, it would be nice, for a disinterested observer, to see him give his farewell performance in an Australia v. India series whose contests are currently gaining the reputation of cricket's version of Celtic v. Rangers at least for their on-field antics and Thursday's contest should be fun to watch to see not only the ball, but also the verbals (accompanied no doubt by some in-your-face pushing and shoving) fly.

If Punter manages to survive as Oz leader nonetheless, I suggest that all Ozzie forummers petition the UN Security Council for the imposition of a no-fly zone (or should it be no-bat zone?) around Punter to prevent further unnecessary suffering. You know it makes sense.

You spoilsports. I want to see Ricky firmly in the seat come The Ashes 2013.

Of course he'll be firmly in the seat.......as part of the Sky commentary team. I hope Nasser winds him right up. shouldn't be too hard......

"Ricky, you know all about losing Ashes series in England.... what does Clarke need to do for England to get back in this?"

"Even I know that one. Bring on Mitchell Johnson!"

"Well Nass, you know nothing about winning Ashes series so I bow to your superior knowledge on this one".

Nasser had the perfect strategy for winning the Ashes. Resign as captain a couple of years before to give Vaughan just enough time to learn the role, then retire a year or so later to let Strauss establish himself in the side!

Henry wrote:I reckon an almost unrecogisable Aus ODI team will face the Bangers next month.

Something like-

Paine+(c)
Finch
Bailey
Ferguson
S.Marsh
M.Marsh
Butterworth
Lyon
J.Pattinson
Cummins

If they're bold and decide it really is time for Aus to move on to a new era. And they'll also want to rest the likes of Watson after such a hectic schedule recently.

I believe it when I see it