Sunday, Feb 17, 2002
Sunday, Feb 17, 2002 |
| Sport | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Sport
-
Cricket
POTCHEFSTROOM, FEB. 16. Australian cricket has continued its bold generational change by appointing Ricky Ponting one-day captain to replace the sacked Steve Waugh. It is an obvious path to Test captaincy, although Australian selectors hope that Waugh will play on in the five-day game for some time yet. Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, 30, was overlooked because of fears about increasing the wicket-keeper's already heavy workload but he will remain Ponting's deputy. The leadership aspirations of Shane Warne, 32, now appear to have been completed dashed after he was ignored for either post despite filling in as vice-captain for a game during the recent one-day series in Australia when Gilchrist was rested. Ponting, 27, is one of the few players in the side under 30 and has had little leadership experience, having been made captain of his state, Tasmania, only at the beginning of this season. However a child prodigy, Ponting represented Tasmania as a 17-year-old and Australia at 20. He has no lack of playing experience, with 131 one-day matches for 4800 runs at 41.37, including eight centuries and 53 Tests for 3196 runs at 43.78 including nine hundreds. Speaking at the team hotel in Potchefstroom after being informed of his promotion by a 6.15 a.m. phone call from Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland, Ponting believes he has matured as a player and a person. ``I think everyone around has recognised and noticed that. The vice-captaincy came along first and now the captaincy so I couldn't have been happier with the way the last couple of years have gone,'' he said less than two days after the Australians arrived in South Africa to prepare for three Tests and seven one-day matches. Clearly Ponting has been forgiven by the ACB for a series of alcohol-related indiscretions in the late `90s which eventually led to his brief suspension from the one-day team. He admitted to a restless night's sleep with the knowledge an early morning phone call was scheduled for the new captain but believed he was third in line behind Gilchrist and Warne. ``Gilly has obviously been around for a number of years and done a fantastic job as vice-captain,'' said Ponting. ``Me and a lot of other people thought that he would just slip into the captain's job. Luckily it's me.'' Ponting described his cricket brain as his best leadership asset. ``I think pretty well about the game and understand the game pretty well,'' he said, unconcerned that most of the players he will lead are older than him. ``I've been around the side a long time and hopefully gained the respect of all my team mates. That's important as far as the captaincy or any sort of leadership role goes in the side. I think I've done that. I can't see there being any problems with any of the senior guys.'' A forthright player and person, Ponting vowed that his attacking approach to batting and fielding would carry over to his leadership. ``The rule changes breed more attacking cricket anyway, with the bouncer rule,'' he said. Ponting will have a difficult initiation as limited overs captain in South Africa, particularly given that South Africa won the recent one-day series in Australia and the home side failed to make the finals. ``That's always going to be tough, especially what's happened in the last few weeks in Australia,'' he said. ``It's a very good side and its going to be tougher again on its home soil.'' Ponting believes not much needs to change for Australia to improve its recent modest one-day form. ``Just our standard of play,'' he said. ``Our side is stacked full of talent. As a captain you're judged on how many wins you get out of the side as far as talent goes. We've got a really talented side therefore I think we should be winning a lot more games than we lose.'' Ponting will seek out Steve Waugh's advice before the one-day series begins in five weeks and did not rule out the return of the 325-game veteran to the limited overs game, although he believes Waugh has a tough task in front of him to regain a place.
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|