Michael Clarke accepts role in axeing Ricky Ponting

[Bradman99]

This was his perfect chance to leave on a high note and let the Aus team build for the future given the next series is against West Indies. However, he has decided to play on, he obviously wants one more Ashes series. He'd better perform well in it, otherwise he would retire on a bad note. Also, he didn't even retire from One dayers, he just accepted he wasn't in the selectors plans. What was the need for the press conference? lol

[Robelinda]

We just dont have any test batsmen waiting for a spot. None. None of the younger guys are making any runs at all in domestic cricket all season (Hughes, Usman, Marsh, Ferguson). I guess thats why Forrest was picked in the odi's, looks like he is next in line.

[Deleted_User_1]

Shouldn't the selectors have given him a chance to retire after this series. After all if he is considered the next best after Bradman, should he not have received this courtesy? :dontknow:

[J P K]

http://sportingmadness.texspares.biz/2012/02/22/ricky-pontings-facebook-wall/

[Stuge]

http://sportingmadness.texspares.biz/2012/02/22/ricky-pontings-facebook-wall/

Even Bingle(Lara) has an IQ that surpasses your CB series score, sorry Mr. mentor, it's difficult to stand you any more !!! :hysterical::hysterical:

[Old guy]

:cantstop:

[saneindian]

Michael Clarke accepts role in axeing Ricky Ponting

Michael Clarke is confident his role on the selection panel that dropped Ricky Ponting from the ODI side will not lead to tension between Ponting and himself. Clarke is a member of the five-man group headed by John Inverarity that ended Ponting's one-day international career earlier this week after deciding they needed to plan for the limited-overs team's future. However, Clarke and Ponting will have to work closely together as the No. 4 and 5 batsmen during the Test tour of the West Indies in April after Ponting confirmed he wanted to play on in the longer format. Clarke did not shy away from his role on the panel and said Ponting, who had made five single-figure ODI scores in succession, understood that the decision was not personal. "I'm 100% part of the selection panel," Clarke said. "That's part now of the captain's job. We've made this decision as a panel. It is tough not having the great Ricky Ponting out there playing for us but that's the decision we've made. Obviously the 2015 World Cup is something we've spoken about as a panel. I'm 100% a part of that. "Ricky was captain of the team for a long time and although he wasn't a selector he played a big part in selecting the XI players that took the field. I remember getting dropped after the Test match in the West Indies and Punter was the one who came and told me I hadn't been selected. He knows it's certainly not personal. I'm very confident our friendship is a lot stronger than that." Australia will play their first match in the post-Ponting ODI era against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Friday. That Tasmania is Ponting's home state has been cause for some debate over whether he should have been given a farewell match - the Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jaywardene said there was usually scope for farewell games in his country - but Clarke said there was no reason to think Ponting had played his last match for Australia on home soil. "He's going to play a lot more Test cricket I hope," he said. "So there's going to be plenty of time for Ricky to play international cricket for Australia." Although Clarke has played 38 one-day internationals without Ponting in the side the feeling will different this time, knowing that his absence is permanent in this format. Not only is Ponting Australia's most-capped and highest-scoring ODI player, he has offered much in the way of off-field support, both as a sounding board for the new captain Clarke and as a mentor for younger players. Ponting even took on the captaincy in his final two matches when Clarke was injured, while many former leaders might have been reluctant to return to the job in similar circumstances. Clarke said it was odd to think of an Australian one-day dressing room without Ponting after his 17-year career in the format. "It certainly is [strange]," he said. "He's certainly going to be missed. I've been great friends with Punter for a long time and that certainly won't change. But I've also played a lot of one-day cricket with him and it's going to feel really weird looking around the field and not seeing him there. "I'll miss his guidance out on the field, his guidance off the field, his friendship, his experience around the group, his knowledge of this game. They're things that no matter much talent you have as a young player, the experience and knowledge of the game you need to learn." Ponting's departure will also force a reworking of Australia's top order. The nature of the line-up will depend on whether Shane Watson is named to play in his first match back from injury, but it could be that Watson and David Warner open with Michael Clarke at No.3 and Matthew Wade slides down the order.http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/185850-clarke-accepts-role-in-axeing-ponting Interesting comments from Clarke there. Even though he goes on to say he does see Punter carry on playing tests for Australia, think it will be more on a series to series basis. One series failure and Punter could find his career finished. Or who knows come the WI tour, the selection team decides it wants to try younger players and may not pick Punter. Interesting times ahead.

[TheWall]

... and Sehwag cries foul for just resting...

[yoda]

... and Sehwag cries foul for just resting...

Did you see the respect shown by Clarke to Ponting? Clearly missing from our man Dhoni.

[akshayxyz]

Did you see the respect shown by Clarke to Ponting? Clearly missing from our man Dhoni.

this.

[achilles]

Simon Katich Ricky Ponting Who is next? Brett Lee?

[amiret]

It is sad , that the God of cricket has retired from ODI's His World Cup winning century in 2003 will never be forgotten.

[achilles]

It is sad , that the God of cricket has retired from ODI's His World Cup winning century in 2003 will never be forgotten.

You are officially on the hitlist of the Sachin gang now :hehe:

[TheWall]

Did you see the respect shown by Clarke to Ponting? Clearly missing from our man Dhoni.

does his performance deserve any respect? not that Dhoni is a saint...

[Bradman99]

Clarke is a brilliant captain!

[Old guy]

respect for clarke here would ve been tough decision ...i dont think any indian captain would ever do something like this!

[Lurker]

respect for clarke here would ve been tough decision ...i dont think any indian captain would ever do something like this!

++ 1 if anyone can do so it would be Dhoni but looks like they may bring him down too.

[CG]

++ 1 if anyone can do so it would be Dhoni but looks like they may bring him down too.

First he should try to get his own house in order then try to bring somebody else down.:hysterical:

[saneindian]

First he should try to get his own house in order then try to bring somebody else down.:hysterical:

What Clarke is doing now, MSD already did 4 years ago on the ODI leg of the last Aus tour :) Since then a number of fans of a certain player have been gunning for him and are in full flow across forums everywhere these days.

[CG]

What Clarke is doing now, MSD already did 4 years ago on the ODI leg of the last Aus tour :) Since then a number of fans of a certain player have been gunning for him and are in full flow across forums everywhere these days.

I think dileep vengsarkar deserves most of the credit for that as it wasn't it the the same dhoni who got dravid,Nehra back:giggle::giggle: ,Hope the irony is not lost .Kudos to clarke for owning up to the decison.