3rd Test: Australia v South Africa at Perth Nov 30-Dec 4, 2012

[Red&BlackBear]

Smash the crap out of that merkin Clarkey!

 

[Xfactor1979]

Why oh why did it have to be that useless merkin who gets Punter...

"Why?" Indeed...

Ie Its like a champion gladiator, killed by a mere peasant

 

[Canard]

Got twice his average for the series.

Seriously disappointing way for one of the best ever to go out.

 

[jezmond]

See ya rick, i'll miss seeing that tough little bugger play!

 

[madunit]

These two need to put on a 150 run partnership, at least.

Good start from Clarke. Cowan needs to keep rotating strike though.

 

[AusKnightRKO]

See ya rick, thanks for the brilliant career

 

[Leagueaddict]

Bad luck Ricky. Thanks for all the great shots and the grittiness of the past. Now someone whack that friggin merkin outta the park!

 

[JJ]

At least he was caught by a great.

Sad to see Ponting go, great player - lucky to have seen him play - but father time catches up with all of us

 

[Danish]

Jesus christ... how bloody deflating was that?

The respect shown by the opposition was truly fantastic though. Kallis, being the gentleman that he is, barely even celebrated when he took that catch. Punter must have been close to tears by the time he got off the ground you'd think.

 

[Hutty1986]

At least he was caught by a great.

Sad to see Ponting go, great player - lucky to have seen him play - but father time catches up with all of us

Reminded me a little of when Steve Waugh retired. C Tendulkar B. Kumble I believe

 

[Red Bear]

Vale punter. Been wanting him to go for two years but still sad to see the end. Was a brilliant batsmen in that eight year period from 99-07, shame he's faded rather badly the last few years.

Missed Watsons dismissal. Warner just got a great ball. He's had an ok series, worth keeping in the side for now. Good to see Cowan playing well again, he's the sort of player we need in the top 3 but he's gotta score the runs as well as occupy.

Good on the Proteas for the guard of honour, really fantastic gesture. They're a side that's a lot harder to hate than India & the pommies

my least favourite team, pretty comfortably tbh

 

[Xfactor1979]

Robin Peterson?

It wasnt supposed to end like that!

lbw shuffling across the crease

bowled- playing it on by morkel, philander or steyn

alas

 

[undertaker]

Ricky got the Swisse of death from Robin Petersen

 

[undertaker]

Reminded me a little of when Steve Waugh retired. C Tendulkar B. Kumble I believe

The difference is that Steve Waugh wasn't 'past it' when he retired. He wanted to have one last shot at breaking our drought in India (which we did later that year in 2004) but was shafted by the selectors. Whereas besides that purple patch he had vs India last summer, Ponting's form has been very haphazard for the last 3 years since his century in the 1st Ashes test at Cardiff in 2009.

I always thought he stayed on for one year too long and should've retired after the Adelaide test this year. The perfect opportunity to have gone out on a high. Looks like the South African curse has struck again. 4 years ago, it was Matthew Hayden whose Ashes aspirations got dented by the Saffers

 

[Xfactor1979]

Listening to the commentary with Kerry O'Keeffe on abc grandstand. When Cowan took the single off the third ball of the over. You could hear Kerry murmuring: 'hmm..' as he took strike

It sounded like Kerry knew

He had nothing left, he had to go

 

[Hutty1986]

The difference is that Steve Waugh wasn't 'past it' when he retired. He wanted to have one last shot at breaking our drought in India (which we did later that year in 2004) but was shafted by the selectors. Whereas besides that purple patch he had vs India last summer, Ponting's form has been very haphazard for the last 3 years since his century in the 1st Ashes test at Cardiff in 2009.

I always thought he stayed on for one year too long and should've retired after the Adelaide test this year. The perfect opportunity to have gone out on a high. Looks like the South African curse has struck again. 4 years ago, it was Matthew Hayden whose Ashes aspirations got dented by the Saffers

Yep, completely agree. Was really hard watching the Punt struggle like this after being near-invincible for so long.

 

[undertaker]

Listening to the commentary with Kerry O'Keeffe on abc grandstand. When Cowan took the single off the third ball of the over. You could hear Kerry murmuring: 'hmm..' as he took strike

It sounded like Kerry knew

He had nothing left, he had to go

Like Haydos, Gilly and other great players, Ponting - as great of a player as he is - will be remembered for staying on a year too long. Age caught up with him and like Haydos, the number of times he was dismissed because of lack of footwork and being trapped on the crease was indicative of this. I think after the Adelaide test did he realise that he wasn't going to make it to the Ashes, and would've been minced meat for the likes of Anderson/Broad/Bresnan/Tremlett etc.

The bigger question is who will take his spot for the upcoming series vs Sri Lanka, as well as the tour of India (which occurs before the Ashes). On form, I would say Khawaja.

 

[Horrie Is God]

Call me the purveyor of lost causes but if Clarke can get a PB this innings,& Cowan can better his best 1st Class score (225) then we are a chance..

It could also snow on Xmas Day..

 

[BunniesMan]

Like Haydos, Gilly and other great players, Ponting - as great of a player as he is - will be remembered for staying on a year too long. Age caught up with him and like Haydos, the number of times he was dismissed because of lack of footwork and being trapped on the crease was indicative of this. I think after the Adelaide test did he realise that he wasn't going to make it to the Ashes, and would've been minced meat for the likes of Anderson/Broad/Bresnan/Tremlett etc.

The bigger question is who will take his spot for the upcoming series vs Sri Lanka, as well as the tour of India (which occurs before the Ashes). On form, I would say Khawaja.

If you really do want to pick on form how about a certain someone who has scored more runs at a better average...

 

[undertaker]

If you really do want to pick on form how about a certain someone who has scored more runs at a better average...

what? You're not suggesting Phil Hughes again, are you?