Farewell Ricky Ponting

I saw Ricky Ponting's Test debut in 1995 vs Sri Lanka at the WACA in Perth - scorecard. He made 96, was given out to a very high LBW decision and was clearly robbed of a century on debut. He's turned out to be a marvellous and, at times, dazzling batsman for Australia. Sadly, the time has come to retire. Actually I consider that he should have retired about two years ago.

Ponting demoted in the batting order in his farewell Test

In a match which he was obviously hoping to make his swansong I find it rather ironic that at the end of the first day's play the coach has decided that Nathan Lyon, genuine no. 11, should come in as nightwatchman in front of Ponting. Ricky had better make a swashbuckling 75 or more tomorrow. You'd hate to see Lyon actually go on to make more runs than him.

Farewell Ricky - well played. Go back to Sheffield Shield for a few seasons and give something back to the lower grade. Vid on YouTube showing his debut and the horrible decision to rob him of a century on debut.

Time To Retire Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting has been a great servant to this nation when it comes to cricket. Not without his share of controversy and Ashes failures he has been a great and enduring batsman. I don't consider him to be one of the best captains that we've had in my memory of test cricket although he has had a great deal of success. Anyone with Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Hayden and Langer in the team is going to have a modicum of success. I don't put that much down to his captaincy. I guess that the decline in his form coinciding with his promotion of Swisse Ultivites is quite humourous.

Tired? Stressed? You'll feel better on an Australian Cricket Board pension.

Swisse ad - Perhaps Paul Collingwood takes Swisse. He caught Ponting regularly enough. If you don't believe me take a look at the video below.