Ian Chappell strikes again

[putrevus]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/543588.html Ricky Ponting hit a glorious boundary off the back foot this week to bring up a second successive half-century in Test cricket. Doesn't sound like much of an achievement for a batsman who has amassed more than 12,000 runs in Test cricket, but it was confirmation that the rejuvenation of the former captain is progressing well. The first sign that things in the Ponting world were on the improve was a pull shot he hit at the Wanderers on the way to helping Australia claim a pulsating victory over South Africa. Where Ponting had been over-committing on the front foot and playing his pull shots in the air for about 12 months, this time he transferred his weight onto the back foot and hit the ball like a rocket into the ground and to the boundary. That was a Ponting-in-his-prime pull shot. When Ponting is a little anxious or in the mood to dictate at all costs, he often has a tendency to over-commit to the front foot. When that happens, his back-foot play is not authoritative and he's more vulnerable. Consequently, those two shots, the one at the Wanderers and then the satisfying one at the Gabba, were good signs, as he tries to prolong his successful career. Throughout his career Ponting's honest approach has been a strong point in his development. From the time he announced publicly that he had a problem with alcohol, to calling a team meeting after the 2005 Ashes loss, he has been able to face his demons. Once again he has faced up to a lean trot with the bat and through hard work been able to rehabilitate his game. It's doubtful if Ponting can consistently produce big innings like in his glory days, but if he's prepared to play at a slightly lower standard, he can still be a useful contributor to this young team. The hardest thing for an ageing batsman to do is to dredge up peak concentration on a regular basis. There are days when the concentration is still strong but there are times when the mind won't do as it's told. Those are the days when batting is a real grind, and it often results in starts that aren't converted into something substantial. If Ponting is prepared to put up with those frustrations, and more importantly, the selectors' patience isn't thoroughly tested, he can still be valuable. For some players their pride is such that it won't allow them to play at a slightly lower standard. Those players generally retire before the selectors can wield the axe. But even though Ponting has enormous pride in his performance, his desire to remain a competitor on the international stage is so strong, he's been prepared to lower his sights a little. The downside is, he could leave himself at the mercy of the selectors. As long as the selectors are prepared to "give him a wink" when they believe his time is up, he can still play a little longer and retire with his dignity intact. Ponting is genuinely enthused about the young talent in the Australian side and he loves the role of mentor. Michael Clarke is happy with that situation and regularly refers in glowing terms to Ponting's contribution being far greater than the value of his runs. One of those young talents to excite is the attacking offspinner Nathan Lyon. His style of bowling, with deceptive flight, good bounce and a little turn, will always test batsmen, and even if he's not taking wickets he helps the cause. Following a stagnant period after Shane Warne's retirement, where spin bowling has been in the doldrums, Lyon is a breath of fresh air. Clarke's handling of Lyon has also been refreshing, and this is one aspect of captaincy where he's superior to Ponting. It can sometimes be a disaster when a recently retired skipper remains in the team. Often it can hamper the new captain, but the current arrangement seems to be working well. Clarke has stamped his authority on the job and Ponting remains in the background when it comes to on-field tactics. Judging by the back-foot shots that are again flowing from Ponting's bat, he has brought about an adjustment to his use-by-date. His last two innings have pushed it back rather than brought it forward. This is the same Moron who wrote a week earlier this crap about Sachin. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/541174.html It used to be a pleasure to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat; the shots that flowed as he took the attack to the bowlers, constantly challenging them to maintain line and length under fire. At the moment it's painful to see him prod and poke as he seeks to eke out his 100th century. I saw both innings of Ponting, the one in SA and at Gabba he was lucky to survive close LBWs both innings by a whisker and scratched and prodded to fifties.Good for him he is a good player I wish him all the best.But anyone who says they saw old Ricky are either blind or they are fricking lying. How can this guy be a two faced bloody liar again and be such a fricking hypocrite.

[Magneto]

No wonder Ian Botham beat him up black and blue.

[Sachinism]

And people treat his words as gospel

[bulbul]

And people treat his words as gospel

xactly i dont understand why people pickup Articles from these Old Cricketers and then feel Bad..just ignore... if article is good then all can discuss on that

[vvvslaxman]

:On a positive note, Ricky is going to suck even more from now on. Tendulkar will start flowing very soon. Thanks Ian :thumbs_up:

[zen]

He is suggesting that Tendulkar should go out and enjoy and be in the mode like he made that 175 .... One has to read the whole article to get the crux of what's being said Not difficult to see that he is being affected by the expectations of getting to a meaningless number (an irony) .... May be he should play like Lara

[vvvslaxman]

He is suggesting that Tendulkar should go out and enjoy and be in the mode like he made that 175 .... One has to read the whole article to get the crux of what's being said Not difficult to see that he is being affected by the expectations of getting to a meaningless number (an irony) .... May be he should play like Lara

Actually he was enjoying until he got into 90s :cantstop:.

[zen]

Actually he was enjoying until he got into 90s :cantstop:.

That's the point .... The 90s

[Magneto]

He didn't spend much time on the 90s - the Wankhede innings was as fluent as they come - in terms of strokemaking, up there among his very best. One loose shot killed it all. On the contrary, Ponting's innings were as jaded as they come, amd he's not even coming close to 80.

[SachDan]

:On a positive note' date=' Ricky is going to suck even more from now on. Tendulkar will start flowing very soon. Thanks Ian :thumbs_up:[/quote'] Exactly B->

[putrevus]

He is suggesting that Tendulkar should go out and enjoy and be in the mode like he made that 175 .... One has to read the whole article to get the crux of what's being said Not difficult to see that he is being affected by the expectations of getting to a meaningless number (an irony) .... May be he should play like Lara

how can he say Sachin is not enjoying his cricket, he made 76 in kotla and 94 at Mumbai but got out it happens he of all people should know better as a batsman all it takes is one mistake to get out before making ridiculous analysis .

[deathmonger]

after we end his career ian will shut up. ponting must be *****ing his pants at the prospect of facing the reborn Ishant.

[Old guy]

hahaha this series is gonna be bad for batsmen zack fir ishant got pace back,yadav a new find for india for australia cummings, patinson good new bowlers if they can some how keep harris fit its gonna be tough for both teams :haha:

[JeffThommo_fan]

Ian Chappell is a legend.... And whatever he says, is always correct. So, everybody should just shut up and obey him :--D

[Old guy]

chappell bros

[Deleted_User_1]

phaack chappal!!!!

[Needforspeed]

phaack chappal!!!!

Ditto

[TheWall]

Now that CHappal has spoken, nobody can save Punter from retiring...