Laxman won't be allowed runner this time, says Ponting

[Nova]

BANGALORE: Wary of even a half-fit VVS Laxman, Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Friday said that in case the Indian batsman plays the second Test despite back spasm, he will not be allowed a "runner" if his injury begins to bother him during the match starting on Saturday. Laxman struck an unbeaten 73 as India fought back from the brink of defeat to beat Australia by one wicket in a thrilling first Test in Mohali and Ponting, aware of their old nemesis' potential, does not want to take any chances this time around. "Learnt the lesson last week (Mohali Test). It can happen obviously. He (Laxman) comes to the game and had a runner. I actually look very faintly that it did not seem he was injured looking at the way he was batting." "I am bit surprised that he had not batted today at the net session. He obviously had much recovery time as possible. I expect that in the game in this stadium he would not be having a runner. No, that can't happen," Ponting said in the pre-match press conference. Talking about the success of his bowlers in Mohali Test but leaving Laxman scot free, the Aussie captain said the team has different plans now even though he had not trained at the net sessions. "I expect Laxman to play. Look, when you have a batting order like the innings (Mohali) you got, I have to talk about every one of them. Sachin is foremost and first and probably then, Sehwag but we play cricket with total respect for all of these stars. "Laxman batting with the tail-enders was very very sensible and good. So, we need to make sure that we have got our plans up and working when he bats in this game. I am sure things would be slow and different from the other day. I think it will be different this time. Until we got him out this guy is going to shake a bit," the Australian skipper said. Ponting said his team is looking forward to square the series (1-1) and also win a Test match on Indian soil. "We are already geared up towards doing the job well for next five days. Sometimes you do not achieve the result. I had already said that I was proud the way my boys have played cricket in the first game. Unfortunately we did not click at the right time. "For the Test starting here tomorrow, we are focusing and talking about it. Yesterday we had a long training session and we are going to train towards winning the match. It is from our part going to be a very similar game like last week and hope for the result, which would be lot more different," Ponting said. About having some of the fast bowlers in injury list like Doug Bollinger in back to back Test matches, the skipper said, "we have looked after the boys well. From end of the last Test match, we had a trouble and early start coming here." "The quickies would be training at the nets today and hopefully their recovery would be well before we go for the game tomorrow," he added. When asked about the validity of tournaments like Twenty20 before important Test series like this, Ponting said "I know from the Australian side that they all ( Michael Hussey and Doug Bolligner) played in tournaments only to prepare well for the Test match." On not bringing on Michael Clarke to bowl in Mohali, Ponting said, "All I can say is that we had a great chance to win the last week's game." "For this week we have made our plans and prepared well. When some situations arise, as captain I shall also do my best for the team cause. All I hope is that I can have a tick in having won a match in India as far as I am concerned," the skipper said. Asked about the retirement plans, Ponting explained, "I have always enjoyed the cricket that I am playing and had never thought whether this is my last Test or series." "India is a great place to play Test cricket. In fact, the Australian team has enjoyed every contest here. We have also enjoyed the country outside the cricket venues. I still believe that I have few more years of cricket left in me, which means I would be back in India again on a Test tour," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/australia-in-india/top-stories/Laxman-wont-be-allowed-runner-this-time-says-Ponting/articleshow/6714623.cms ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fair enough. Can't carry a injury from the first test to the 2nd match and expect a runner. But I have a feeling that Laxman's back is going to bother him again if he plays. If he didn't practice today, that means he might still not be 100% fit. Does Punter regret that he allowed Laxman a runner for the 1st test match? Somewhere in those lines (in bold above), may be he thinks that Laxman took advantage or am I reading too much between the lines? P.S. Mods can merge this with the pre-match discussion thread if they wish. I didn't notice earlier.

[The Outsider]

It's not in Ponting's control. The rule of the opposing captain approving a runner has long been done away with. It is a decision solely with the umpires now.

[RamP]

^^ yes. punter is hinting that vvs used runner to the advantage and he dint look like genuinely injured. What the heck? Having a runner actually causes confusion and Dhoni got out because of that and Ojha nearly got out. How can he (punter) actually think it worked in laxi's favor, that too in a test match. in a ODI like the one where Saeed Anwar scored 194 (wel., this is no more a world record :yay:) having a runner could have been considered as beneficial but not in a test match batting with tail. Sob ponting is clearly looking for excuses here

[nballa]

all this runner stuff is bogus. you are either healthy enough to play or not. dont get an injured player out to play if he is already nursing an injury. it is one thing to get injured during play and quite another in carrying over to another game. ponting will be right in disallowing the runner. even though it might go against the spirit of the game.

[Hindustani]

all this runner stuff is bogus. you are either healthy enough to play or not. dont get an injured player out to play if he is already nursing an injury. it is one thing to get injured during play and quite another in carrying over to another game. ponting will be right in disallowing the runner. even though it might go against the spirit of the game.

Ponting has all the right to disallow Laxman having a runner, this is not Inzi days where a player is having a runner for 2 years , if you are already having some injury, don't play

[Ram]

The suggestion that VVS feigned Injury just to have a runner is stupid. As RamP said, having a runner actually nearly cost us the game in the first place, with Dhoni's run out and Raina nearly running VVS out. Ponting knows the rules that he has no say in the decision to allow a runner for the batsmen, what he's desperately trying to do is put pressure on the Indian mgmt to leave VVS out for the next test. The obvious inference is 'Well, dont play VVS unless you're 100% sure he' fit. Else, you'll look bad'. That is how much these guys fear VVS.

[kabira]

Well Punter, if Laxman was feigning injury, why would have bat at 7 instead of 5. Why would he not be on field fielding??

[RamP]

The suggestion that VVS feigned Injury just to have a runner is stupid. As RamP said, having a runner actually nearly cost us the game in the first place, with Dhoni's run out and Raina nearly running VVS out. Ponting knows the rules that he has no say in the decision to allow a runner for the batsmen, what he's desperately trying to do is put pressure on the Indian mgmt to leave VVS out for the next test. The obvious inference is 'Well, dont play VVS unless you're 100% sure he' fit. Else, you'll look bad'. That is how much these guys fear VVS.

^^ exactly what i was thinking. ponting knows he cannot stop vvs from using a runner. but by saying this in open, he is making dhoni and co think what if we take a half fit vvs into the match and then ponting makes a scene by refusing a runner. what the umpires will decide at that time an what if they go with ponting in which case, taking vvs into the match will backfire. Is it worth taking such a big risk. basically ponting wants our management think in these lines and being the good, peace loving, gentlemanly people tat we are he hopes that we';ll leave out vvs, which is his primary objective

[IT_Anxiety_NJIT]

Ponting is right here. Laxman carries an injury before the start of the match. So he is not entitled for a runner. Last match, he got the injury on second day and hence got his runner.

[Ram]

^^ exactly what i was thinking. ponting knows he cannot stop vvs from using a runner. but by saying this in open' date=' he is making dhoni and co think what if we take a half fit vvs into the match and then ponting makes a scene by refusing a runner. what the umpires will decide at that time an what if they go with ponting in which case, taking vvs into the match will backfire. Is it worth taking such a big risk. basically ponting wants our management think in these lines and being the good, peace loving, gentlemanly people tat we are he hopes that we';ll leave out vvs, which is his primary objective[/quote'] ++

[beetle]

What a sore loser!:punter:

[yoda]

These guys are so worried about VVS, they start wondering why he didn't bat in the net session. :hysterical: As Outsider has pointed out, it is not up to Mr. Ponting whether a runner is allowed or not. So here is to Ponting and yes nballa too :finger:

[Sachinism]

I hope thats not what he's suggesting. Had VVS batted in his normal position in the 1st innings the game would have been done for the Aussies.

[The Dark Horse]

These guys are so worried about VVS, they start wondering why he didn't bat in the net session. :hysterical: As Outsider has pointed out, it is not up to Mr. Ponting whether a runner is allowed or not. So here is to Ponting and yes nballa too :finger:

:giggle:

[DomainK]

Punter cant spend a whole series without whinning once.

[HowardRoark]

What a dumb question for our ever desperate journalists to ask! - what else and how else would Ponting respond? They will ask next - would you allow Laxman to score a half century in the next match? and he will reply 'hopefully we can get him out early without him doing much damage'. Then they will put the headlines as 'Ponting dares Laxman to score a half century'.

[RamP]

Punter cant spend a whole series without whinning once.

More whining to follow later during the ashes. :punter:

[coffee_rules]

It's not in Ponting's control. The rule of the opposing captain approving a runner has long been done away with. It is a decision solely with the umpires now.

It looked like umpires asked Ponting and he seemed to have nodded too. I saw it in I1 on D3 evening. Even the commies had a comment about it. Are you sure about that rule?

[The Outsider]

It looked like umpires asked Ponting and he seemed to have nodded too. I saw it in I1 on D3 evening. Even the commies had a comment about it. Are you sure about that rule?

Yeah, they amended the rule a few years back :

1. Substitutes and runners (a) If the umpires are satisfied that a player has been injured or become ill after the nomination of the players, they shall allow that player to have (i) a substitute acting instead of him in the field. (ii) a runner when batting. Any injury or illness that occurs at any time after the nomination of the players until the conclusion of the match shall be allowable, irrespective of whether play is in progress or not. (b) The umpires shall have discretion, for other wholly acceptable reasons, to allow a substitute for a fielder, or a runner for a batsman, at the start of the match or at any subsequent time. © A player wishing to change his shirt, boots, etc. must leave the field to do so. No substitute shall be allowed for him. 2. Objection to substitutes The opposing captain shall have no right of objection to any player acting as a substitute on the field, nor as to where the substitute shall field. However, no substitute shall act as wicketkeeper. See 3 below.

[flamy]

Punter cant spend a whole series without whinning once.

:haha::haha::haha::haha::haha: