Don't bowl 'short' at me, I've a dodgy elbow .. pleads Ponting !!

[SachDan]

Ricky Ponting says opponents taking advantage of his injured elbow by switching to short-pitch bowling has contributed to a slump in form, but believes he will be back to his best in time for this winter's Ashes series. The Australia captain's batting average has fallen from a career-high 60 at the end of 2006 to 54.66, leading to speculation that at 35 years old his powers are on the wane. Ponting, however, has wants to remain at No3 and reestablish himself as one of the world's pre-eminent players. "I think [opponents] have probably changed the way they bowl at me as a result of the start of last summer in Australia," he said. "I am probably getting more short bowling than I used to get as a result of getting hit on the elbow last year. I think that is really the only change. "Last year for me Test-wise is one of those years where I look back and almost write it off – I think I got run out three times, got caught at bat-pad three times. "But I am working as hard as I ever worked, if I am averaging 54 now I have to push that up again, up to a level I know I am capable of playing at – that's the great challenge for me." Ponting added: "Batting at No3 and being a leader of the side, there is a lot of responsibility on me to be a consistent run scorer and probably over the last 12 months I haven't been that. "[but] I feel when I am playing well that I am the best person for that role, I will work hard, try and take my chances and be the player I want to be." Ponting last week ramped up Australia's pre-Ashes rivalry with England by predicting a 5-0 victory for the home side, but if his comments were intended as bravado, he maintains his side will be far stronger than they were during the 2009 series. "I think we have done things really well for probably 18 months. I just feel we are more experienced, certainly Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz, Watson – those guys are a lot more experienced," he said. "Probably the hardest thing to juggle and the biggest challenge we have had the last two years is how many people we have used over that period of time. "Thirteen debutants in one year of cricket is unheard of – Steve Waugh had something like 16 debutants in his whole career – it just goes to show what we have been through. "It has exposed younger guys and that can only be beneficial down the track." http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/23/ricky-ponting-ashes LMAO :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Clarke]

Where exactly is the pleading :hmmmm:

[Gunner_Mania]

Et Tu SachDan?

[SachDan]

Where exactly is the pleading :hmmmm:

What's the point in knowing the whole world that he's having problems handling short pitch stuff? was he expecting fast bowlers to bowl him juicy half-volleys while 'blaming' them for taking advantage of his inadequacy against short stuff? :hysterical:

[Clarke]

^ Its more like inviting more of it, when ur saying what ur current weakness is.

[SachDan]

^ Its more like inviting more of it' date=' when ur saying what ur current weakness is.[/quote'] You seems to have forgot the arrogant Pwnting who was trying to pull/hook fast bowlers without much to show for it. These are his own words.."I think [opponents] have probably changed the way they bowl at me as a result of the start of last summer in Australia" ! Did he ever changed his attitude even after knowing that "I ain't good now as I WAS"! how many times we have seen the ball falling short of deep square leg or fine-leg while trying to show his authority against pace men? heck he's still averaging 54 because of that dolly dropped by Mowgli in the deep when he was on naught!! Remember one Sachin Tendulkar who was going through a rough patch in Aus 2003-04,curbed his off-side play and yet scored a mammoth 241? And after few years so called "experts" all over the world were criticizing him for not being the old Tendulkar against pace bowling their complaint being "good fast bowlers are able to dictate terms with his stroke play" :) Now it's there for all of us to see who the real BOSS is? Be it pacy pitches Australia, seaming wickets in New Zealand, turning wickets in Sri Lanka, man is scoring runs for FUN :two_thumbs_up: PS: Being modest is not that bad after all :winky:

[imran666]

basically hes telling the bowlers to go abit easy on him lol

[Cricketics]

I doubt a great player like ponting who has played that shot numerous times would say anything like that mentioned in the title. He has gotten out lot of times to that shot but at the same time he plays the shot pretty well too. He times that shot to perfection most of the time. Still the best player out there after Tendulkar, Dravid and some other Indians.

[yoda]

SachDan accepted to TOI sensational headlines team :giggle:

[Online]

Still the best player out there after Tendulkar' date=' Dravid and some other Indians.[/quote'] hahha love it! what a backhanded compliment! :hatsoff:

[rahulrulezz]

I doubt a great player like ponting who has played that shot numerous times would say anything like that mentioned in the title. He has gotten out lot of times to that shot but at the same time he plays the shot pretty well too. He times that shot to perfection most of the time. Still the best player out there after Tendulkar, Dravid and some other Indians.

:giggle: Agree that Tendulkaar is better than Ponting but Ponting is wayyy better than Dravid or other Indian players

[Cricketics]

:giggle: Agree that Tendulkaar is better than Ponting but Ponting is wayyy better than Dravid or other Indian players

No way... away from home dravid has stepped up gazzilion times to save india when they are in trouble. Ponting has done the same too for australia but i have seen players like Damien martyn, steve waugh, langer doing for australia more then punter. Dravid clearly stands out strong in that. plus at home he has done well for us for sure.

[SachinIndia10]

The debate ends now that Sachin is better batsman than Ponting Lara & Bradman too Sach never said to bowlers to go easy on him even when he had tennis elbow injury.

[ludhianvi]

This seems to be a classic case of twisting the quotes and making an attention seeking headline by the journalist. Ponting was most likely responding to specific questions asked by the reporter. Nowhere in the articles does he say "Don't bowl 'short' at me, I've a dodgy elbow .. pleads Ponting"

[EnterTheVoid]

Bah, poor stuff Dan :headshake:

[Zap_Brannigan]

This is a trick. Ponting cannot play spin in India, so he is tricking us to bowl our pacemen at him. If Ishant and Zaheer keep feeding him short balls, he could play his favorite hook and pull shots all day long. Dont fall for it, India.

[Bradman99]

What are you laughing about?

[saneindian]

Ponting injured his elbow in 2009. How about 2007 and 2008? Where there some other part of the body which was injured because of which he saw a "slump"?

[sudheer kumar]

Ponting likes to play pull shots over square leg. He will play short pitch easily

[SachDan]

SachDan accepted to TOI sensational headlines team :giggle:

:--D