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[Mr. Wicket]

Here is my honest assessment of Ponting as a captain. He is a very good ODI captain for a few reasons : 1. He assigns specific roles to players. In Ponting's captaincy there will always be a predetermined strike bowler, stock bowler, all rounder, finisher etc. That works like a charm in ODIs because of the mechanical nature of the game. Of course, that he has players who can fill those specific roles over a duration of 100 overs helps. 2. His aggressive batting style sets an example. Even if he walks in at 8/1, he will never hesitate to go for that booming drive through extra cover. He might fail, but it sets an example for the remaining batsmen to be attacking and in ODIs conditions invariably ease out after a few overs. 3. He is very good in rotating bowlers when there is a set target as much how much they are allowed to bowl. Some captains tend to under or over bowl their main bowlers at crucial junctures in ODIs. Ponting is a very good reader of the runs per over and wicket importance. Unfortunately, all his plus points become negatives when it comes to test cricket : 1. Playing according to a script often does not work in a game which lasts 5 days and 450 overs. One might have assigned Johnson as the strike bowler of the series, but after a few spells if it's obvious that he is not then he should be relegated to a stock bowler. If Watson is thriving in English conditions, he should not be take off after one bad over just because he is a stock bowler according to the pre match discussions. 2. Aggression in test cricket is very over rated. The Headingly test match got over in less than 3 days, but for time lost and slow over rate. Conditions must be assessed and plans changed on the fly. I find Clarke more adaptable to situations than Ponting and he might just be the change from the over aggressive attitude than Australia are looking for. 3. If the ball is swinging, bring Watson on as your opening bowler, Ricky! If the pitch is turning don't wait till the 20th over before giving your only spinner a proper go (Sydney). He thinks too much about the set patterns and workloads of bowlers in test matches. He would do well to remember the 11 over spell that Ishant bowled at him and was too exhausted to do anything meaningful afterwards. However, that spell took out the most dangerous opposition batsman. Ponting should be willing to extend and cut down spells of his bowlers on what's going on in the field rather than what was discussed in the dressing room.

Prof. Fantastic post. I am at times (perhaps all the time) too harsh on his captaincy, but you make some very fair points re. his ODI captaincy that I've not given him credit for in the past. Though I will also add that his leadership from the front with the bat can be a plus in tests as well (I remember his fantastic hundred at Old Trafford in the '05 Ashes very well as a striking example and a really top quality, inspiring innings full of grit and his characteristic strokeplay). As for the paint by numbers captaincy in tests - nailed it. Ponting premeditates a lot of his captaincy - heck, after Edgbaston in '05 he constantly bats upon winning the toss without thinking about the conditions and consequences, and Leeds was just another example of that. Plus, recollect the number of times that he could have easily gone for the kill in a test match, enforced a follow on (even against weak teams like WI and NZ), but stayed with his usual paint by numbers approach to set a big target despite a giant lead? He's not particularly good at thinking on his feet, and this is why some seriously attacking, not-exactly-textbook players like Flintoff and Sehwag have caused so much headache for Aus - if they start firing and throw Australia off their set plan, Ponting immediately draws blanks and can't work out how to adapt.

[CSK Fan]

Who really cares when his career is over he will point to being number one in tests for over 10 years. 4 world cups when we win next year' date=' man of the match in the final with 140 odd. I mean there's no one that will compare to his achievements.[/quote'] One of the reasons Aussies are detoriating so much. You guys once had such high standards that you would drop Waughs and Warnes from the team ruthlessly forgetting their past achievements. But then you were invincible and had that luxury. Even one defeat was frowned at. Seems like you are getting more and more used to defeats now. Look at you trying to defend one player over your team now.

[THX_1138]

Although I despise him for his bad captaincy decisions this match, there is a hint of pity for him (pity @ batting not at incompetent captaincy, a once great batsman now limping on one leg): Have Australia sunk to such a low that they are outplayed by such a poor, poor side, led by a new captain, have a nonexistent batting tail and packed with amateurs ? Favorable conditions, cloud cover etc etc but being beaten by Pakistan ? :banghead:

they lack an opening pair. true watson has done well, but he is at the end of the day, a slogger. he is not someone you want in your test side. he is never going to triumph against testing conditions and good bowlers. he got the double whammy this past test: two top notch swing bowler and marginally favorable conditions. they need to bring back the types of phil jacques or whoever it is that is waiting in the wings. watson earned himself a life with this bowling in the first test, but he really is not test material. he reminds me of the robin singh experiment: when we played him in tests and managed to lose to zimbabwe. an ODI specialist who ought not to be around the test 11. i wont however, offer ponting any sympathy. he is a fracktard and the more miserable he is, the more joyous i am.

[thevortex]

Ponting is an absolute loss as a captain. Outsider - I dont see what case can be made out for him as a 'good' ODI captain. A lot of people discount his captaincy when SA and New Zealand smacked the leather out of what was still a decent Australian attack to get those record scores. He cannot think out of the box. If his bowling team can get on top of the batsmen, all well and good. If they get clobbered or if his plan A does not work, then God save the team. Yes it is the team which makes a captain look good or bad. But the best captains have something to do with giving their teams the best chance to succeed. And they innovate. Ponting does not fit in there.