Sport

Ricky Ponting redeemed himself

PETER ROEBUCK

Seldom in the story of Ashes cricket has any match produced the agony and ecstasy felt by players and spectators alike as this epic contest approached its climax at Old Trafford on Monday.

Seldom have louder roars been heard at any sporting arena. Seldom have two such Test matches been played within a fortnight. Seldom has a local colossus fulfilled expectations as emphatically as did Andrew Flintoff. Seldom has a captain defied the times as magnificently as did Ricky Ponting in his country's hour of greatest need.

Others will salute Flintoff's towering contribution. Throughout Ponting was his match. As Australia slept, its captain produced one of the finest defensive innings of recent times and much the best of an already distinguished career. After languishing for four days, Ponting redeemed himself with a performance so defiant and skilful that it deserves a place alongside the finest of its type. Heavens, it might have been Steve Waugh out there, or Allan Border or Ken Barrington.

Ponting was outstanding. Over the last few days his worst nightmares have come to pass. His team had gone to pieces and he had looked powerless to arrest the slide. Not without reason, his tactics had been criticised. Worst of all, England was on the verge of taking a 2/1 lead in his first Ashes campaign as captain. Something stirring was needed yet he must have felt the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

Overnight Ponting must have prayed for a long innings from his most dogged batsman, Justin Langer, a man prepared to bat through entire series of Big Brother. It took a single ball to shatter that hope and the Australian captain found himself marching to the crease with the day hardly five minutes old. Already he was entering unfamiliar terrain. A fifth day? Australia had won the previous Ashes series by the 11th afternoon. Playing for a draw? What on earth was a draw?

As usual he started shakily. Like those gramophones of yesteryear, Ponting's feet take a while to warm up. Occasionally he played across the ball, the middle of his bat alone curtailing the bowler's yelp for leg before wicket. Once the Tasmanian had taken his bearings, though, he set about building the sort of colossal construction required by his side. By doing so, he confirmed that he is a batsman of many parts and a responsible leader of the team. Captaincy is a piece of cake when everything is falling into place.

Unwilling to concentrate solely on defence, an approach that flatters the bowlers and allows opposing captains to crowd, the Australian played the ball away efficiently off his pads and pulled with absolute control. If anything his straight driving was even more impressive as, with the full face of the bat and not much apparent effort, he sent the ball skimming discouragingly back past the bowler.

Ponting's skill

Ponting also countered the turning ball with patience and skill. Not that the ball turned as much as expected. Pitches do not crumble as much these days. Nor did the spinner try his luck around the wicket till starting his 27th over. Nevertheless Ashley Giles asked awkward questions. Combining soft-handed defence with fleet-footed attack, and judging the length and direction of the ball unerringly, the Australian captain answered them all.

Of course Ponting could not save the match on his own. Support was needed. Ponting watched for the bowler's end as partners tried to keep him company. Unable to make hide or hair of Andrew Flintoff, none of the left-handers had an easy time. For once the right-handers had the better of it.

But the fate of the contest and maybe the series depended on Ponting's ability to nurse his side to safety. He almost made it. Shane Warne kept him company till the last hour began. Brett Lee hung on desperately. Ponting wanted to protect his partner from some furious pace bowling. After 411 minutes of heroic defiance, he tried a pull and the ball brushed his glove. He left with head bowed, a fine batsman who had played the innings of his life. His tailenders did not let him down. As one spectator put it " you wouldn't be dead for quids."

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