Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting
Ricky Thomas Ponting, AO, nicknamed Punter, is an Australian former cricketer who was captain of the Australia national cricket team during its 'golden era'; between 2004 and 2011 in Test cricket and 2002 and 2011 in One Day International cricket. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional bowler. Ponting holds the incredible record of being the only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to be a part of 100...
NationalityAustralian
ProfessionCricket Player
Date of Birth19 December 1974
CityLaunceston, Australia
CountryAustralia
Every individual has got to put their hand up and stand up in a game that counts... There's no other option now, if guys can't get up for a game like the one we've got coming up, then they shouldn't be playing. I wouldn't think a batting change would come from outside the squad, and to tell the truth I don't think a bowling change would either.
We have relied heavily on Warne and McGrath and, as a captain, I will always go to those two guys because I know they will give me pretty much what I ask for every time,
We're going to need some experienced guys back in the Test side if Glenn doesn't come back, so I'm sure their names will be at the top of the list.
I know I am not going to keep everybody happy along the way, but as long as I look after the guys in my dressing-room I'm okay.
A lot of our guys are in good form, there's a good feeling around the team and if we get out there and start the test match well I'm sure South Africa will find it hard to beat us.
The thing about our batsmen right now is it's not as if anyone is going through a lean trot. Guys are getting 20 and 30 and 40 and getting out, which is fairly unusual for our players, ... To win Test matches you have to have those big scores made. You have to make hundreds in Test cricket, that's what it's all about. They're just not doing that right now. There's no doubt we'll sit down and talk about some of the individuals, but I must admit I'd be surprised if any changes were made.
A few of our guys in the side knew him a lot better than I did, Shane Warne being one of those. Shane was a pretty close friend of Kerry's, so it's an extremely sad day and it's a huge loss for the cricket community.
The older guys have been the ones who have performed the best, so how do you move them on?
I've told the guys to keep their heads up. I really believe we played a great game here.
We knew that if we had to win the World Cup, the defensive side of the game had to be better, which means bowlers will have to bowl tight and we will have to field better.
It's a song that we sing after we win a Test match. We sing it after every one-day series win. It's been passed down through the generations. It's the culture of the Australian team.
It's nice to put your hand up and do the big things the team requires of you.
We have played so well that the guys have really made my job fairly easy.
It was a long, hard, tough day. We managed to just sneak through, it was an unbelievable Test match.