Good Bye Ponting -- Out of Sydney Test

[The Outsider]

^ Huh? Forget about other post match interviews, just in the presentation Ponting told Mark Taylor that he was confident he would be fit for Sydney, but the final decision would be taken after an examination.

[Ram]

^ Huh? Forget about other post match interviews' date=' just in the presentation Ponting told Mark Taylor that he was confident he would be fit for Sydney, but the final decision would be taken after an examination.[/quote'] That maybe, but do you really think they would have let Ponting go for a finger injury, if they really wanted to him play? He was obviously given enough hints.

[The Outsider]

^ If the Ashes were still on the line, he would have surely played. With the Ashes gone and the World Cup starting in 1.5 months, coupled with the fact that it has now been ascertained that his injury requires a minor surgery, it makes sense for him to sit out now, rather than delay it for 10 days to wait for the Sydney test to finish.

[Ram]

^ If the Ashes were still on the line' date=' he would have surely played. With the Ashes gone and the World Cup starting in 1.5 months, coupled with the fact that it has now been ascertained that his injury requires a minor surgery, it makes sense for him to sit out now, rather than delay it for 10 days to wait for the Sydney test to finish.[/quote'] You say the decision to leave him out for the final test is soley based on his fitness and the fact that Ashes has already been lost. I say its got a lot to do with the selectors wanting to move ahead as well.

[Sachin=GOD]

You say the decision to leave him out for the final test is soley based on his fitness and the fact that Ashes has already been lost. I say its got a lot to do with the selectors wanting to move ahead as well.

Surely, making Clarke the captain is not "moving ahead".

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[Ram]

Surely' date=' making Clarke the captain is not "moving ahead".[/quote'] Clarke has been vice captain for 4 years now. If you discard him and appoint someone else, then that will send all sorts bad signals to the team. And unlike Punter, Pup still has lot to offer to Aussie cricket. Ignroing him for the captaincy spot now, after him grooming him for 4 years will absolutely shatter him. You don’t want someobody whom you hope will leade your side for the next 4-5 years to be let down like that, this early.

[The Outsider]

You say the decision to leave him out for the final test is soley based on his fitness and the fact that Ashes has already been lost. I say its got a lot to do with the selectors wanting to move ahead as well.

Move ahead? By dropping only Ponting in a team littered with under performers and appointing Clarke a captain, who has been disastrous with the bat? They'll wait till the end of the World Cup to make any long term decisions - their next test series is not for another 7-8 months.

[Sachin=GOD]

Clarke has been vice captain for 4 years now. If you discard him and appoint someone else, then that will send all sorts bad signals to the team. And unlike Punter, Pup still has lot to offer to Aussie cricket. Ignroing him for the captaincy spot now, after him grooming him for 4 years will absolutely shatter him. You don’t want someobody whom you hope will leade your side for the next 4-5 years to be let down like that, this early.

but whatever little I have seen of him as captain (and quite a few people share this few) he does not look that good a captain and does not inspire confidence. They will have to make some long term decisions and Clarke to me does not look like a long term replacement.

[VRV Singh]

He has not been dropped IMO, I think Ponting would rather make an exit with a degree of dignity and see out a series rather than as part of some injury facade. At the moment his rep in Australia is at its lowest ebb, he may as well try and restore some pride by levelling the series. He'd be kicking up a stink otherwise.