Ricky Ponting: worst Australian captain: EVER!

[hineyrulz]

I agree, if Warne was captain, he would still be playing. Problem with Kat or Clarke is that there is no way you can demote Ponting from the captaincy and still keep him in the team. There is no way a player of his stature, after holding the mantle for so long, would accept it.

Ponting always gets critisized for having a champion team, someone explain to me how he is any different to Steve Waugh? People always critisize Ponting when IMO he is at least on par with Waugh if not better from a captaincy perspective. People say he inherited a great side. How is that any different to what Waugh had given to him from Taylor? Remember Waugh was the one who couldn't get us to win in India despite possessing one of Australia's greatest ever sides. That Waugh was the one who oversaw the follow-on debacle and did f**k all as Laxman and Dravid pranced around all day. Remember that Ponting was the one who finally broke our Indian hoodoo. Lets not forget that Waugh was the one who nearly killed Brett Lee's career by trying to make him bowl to 7-2 fields, without realizing that not every fast bowler is like McGrath.

Don't tell me that Ponting's side was equal to Waugh's as Ponting got the team when it was beginning its descent while Waugh got it when it was approaching its absolute apex, from Taylor. Steve Waugh's captaincy is truly one of the most over-rated facts in recent cricketing history and it kills me that he is regarded so highly while Ponting is rated as a guy with no idea.

Sure Ponting has his flaws, and i'll be the first the admit it, but if people are going to create idiotic threads like this one, at least try to look at things objectively.

Waugh turned a great team into an even better one. sticking up for Ponting's captaincy and calling Waugh an overated captain :lol: Taylor was a great captain, better than Waugh who at times was to aggresive for his own good. IE India 2001.

And as for Ponting breaking India's hoodoo :lol: Gilly captained the side for the first 3 test matches and Ponting came back for the loss. With him in charge for the whole series we may not have won. But i will agree it will be hard for them to take the captaincy of him now, he may give the game away. But if we lose the Ashes again something should be done.

 

[TheParraboy]

Waugh was a great player, but an ordinary captain

how is he ordinary?

 

[Timbo]

Shocking captain. Not fit to tie Steve Waugh's boots.

Give it to the Kat.

 

[Ridders]

Waugh turned a great team into an even better one. sticking up for Ponting's captaincy and calling Waugh an overated captain :lol: Taylor was a great captain, better than Waugh who at times was to aggresive for his own good. IE India 2001.

And as for Ponting breaking India's hoodoo :lol: Gilly captained the side for the first 3 test matches and Ponting came back for the loss. With him in charge for the whole series we may not have won. But i will agree it will be hard for them to take the captaincy of him now, he may give the game away. But if we lose the Ashes again something should be done.

Please, Taylor was the one who molded the side and Waugh was the one who benefited from his good work. I'm not saying Waugh didn't improve the side, but the bulk of the work was done by Tubs. I think Waugh was a good captain, but the fact that he is widely regarded as better than either Taylor or Border suggets that he is indeed over-rated.

He came into captaincy at a time when Australia possessed almost impossible depth at all positions. I mean the best two leg spinners in the world at the time were Australians. The West Indian dynasty had fallen and there were no real major competitors apart from a talented Indian team (with inferior bowling stock) and a South African team that was far better at the limited overs game than it was at Test Cricket. Throughout most of his captaincy, he was never challenged in the same way as either Border or Taylor was mainly because the state of world cricket (at the test arena at least) was mediocre at best.

Was there ever a time during Waugh's captaincy that he came up against a team that could at least come close to matching the talent that his Australian team had? Waugh's entire philosophy was to grind your opposition down, which works fine when you always have the best team. The one time a situation arose where his team wasn't clearly the best one (India) and his single-minded tactics were caught out badly. Already mentioned his attempt to try to turn Brett Lee into Glenn McGrath :lol:. The interesting thing with Ponting in recent times is that he has come into an era when we haven't always possessed the superior team, something Waugh never had to deal with. Like i've said numerous times, Ponting has his flaws, which have been rightly exposed post McGrath and Warne, but to rate Waugh so much higher imo is wrong.

 

[hineyrulz]

Please, Taylor was the one who molded the side and Waugh was the one who benefited from his good work. I'm not saying Waugh didn't improve the side, but the bulk of the work was done by Tubs. I think Waugh was a good captain, but the fact that he is widely regarded as better than either Taylor or Border suggets that he is indeed over-rated.

He came into captaincy at a time when Australia possessed almost impossible depth at all positions. I mean the best two leg spinners in the world at the time were Australians. The West Indian dynasty had fallen and there were no real major competitors apart from a talented Indian team (with inferior bowling stock) and a South African team that was far better at the limited overs game than it was at Test Cricket. Throughout most of his captaincy, he was never challenged in the same way as either Border or Taylor was mainly because the state of world cricket (at the test arena at least) was mediocre at best.

Was there ever a time during Waugh's captaincy that he came up against a team that could at least come close to matching the talent that his Australian team had? Waugh's entire philosophy was to grind your opposition down, which works fine when you always have the best team. The one time a situation arose where his team wasn't clearly the best one (India) and his single-minded tactics were caught out badly. Already mentioned his attempt to try to turn Brett Lee into Glenn McGrath :lol:. The interesting thing with Ponting in recent times is that he has come into an era when we haven't always possessed the superior team, something Waugh never had to deal with. Like i've said numerous times, Ponting has his flaws, which have been rightly exposed post McGrath and Warne, but to rate Waugh so much higher imo is wrong.

And Taylor didn't inherit a strong team molded by Border??? Please :? Never knocked Tubs as a captain but Waugh took our team to another level. Ponting has continued to show what a great leader he is so far in England as well. Stuggling to beat an ordinary injury riddled side.

 

[Slackboy72]

Appreciate the pros and cons but you have to say that Ponting does have his weaknesses as a captain. Not bouncing Panesar into next week but rather letting him block out North was ridiculous. Keeping Clark out of the team was fatal on a pitch where, of our attack, only Lee and Clark had bowled before. Trying to bowl Johnson into form when he was so out of sorts was patently suicidal.
Now with no Bob Simpson and no Warne he really shows that at times he can be truly clueless. Again he isn't bad but by christ we need better.

 

[JJ]

And Taylor didn't inherit a strong team molded by Border??? Please :? Never knocked Tubs as a captain but Waugh took our team to another level. Ponting has continued to show what a great leader he is so far in England as well. Stuggling to beat an ordinary injury riddled side.

Maybe - but the Australian team is ordinary too

Waugh was not a great captain - the obvious examples are in India and when NZ through rain and an unusual batting performance put Australia under pressure

Not hard to captain a side when you have an entire top order to #7 that averages approax 50, and generally scores 4 RPO, and then in the field you simply give the ball to Warne and McGrath...

 

[Blaze]

Didn't see enough of Waugh's tests as captain to comment on his tactical skills but as a leader of men he was fantastic imo.

 

[stupidhumour]

I have been saying this for years.

Whilst Ridders has come up with some well constructed points, the long and the short of it IMO is that Ponting had absolutely no cricket sense. I can only assume most who are posting in here have (at least) some cricket experience and I continue to be amazed at the inept decisions he makes on the field, with regards to field placements and general man/match-management.

You may argue that he has 'so' much to think about when he's out there? That is bull. He has the coach/es there to talk to during every break to work out bowling changes, and plans for certain batsmen etc - and he STILL shows no nous, generally following the ball with his fieldsmen. You can always tell a captain who has no confindence if he is adjusting the field every ball.....next time you're out there, watch him.

I agree wholehartedly with the sentiments of him as a player. He is one of the best batsmen and fielders Australia have ever had - I have loved watching him from when he was a kid but being the 'best' player on the field does not mean he should be captain - we are not 10 year olds.

I think his on-field persona including the way he addresses umpires is downright embarrassing. I know Waugh was a hard nut but he never (AFAIK) abused an umpire as captain and would be pretty freakin' sure Taylor didn't either. I

Everytime I see him interviewed or doing an interview I am still amazed at how little he has to offer - Just shows you can't media-train class or personality.

Warne is the best captain we never had. And yes I know his personality would have affected the marketability of the Australian team in the short-term, but I think it was a risk worth taking when the choice was made. Instead they picked someone who got in a fight in the Cross over a transvestite with no cricket sense.

Recently I have had a definite disconnect from the Australian team and it relates directly the attitude of the team, driven by certains players like Messr Ponting & Hayden.

I am also painfully aware they will never sack him, so the only options we have are waiting until he retires or if he gives up the captaincy.....hmmmm

Frankly I would pick Warne tomorrow as skipper/spinner. Straight swap for Hauritz...and I would then put ALOT of money on us winning the series.

 

[hineyrulz]

I have been saying this for years.

Whilst Ridders has come up with some well constructed points, the long and the short of it IMO is that Ponting had absolutely no cricket sense. I can only assume most who are posting in here have (at least) some cricket experience and I continue to be amazed at the inept decisions he makes on the field, with regards to field placements and general man/match-management.

You may argue that he has 'so' much to think about when he's out there? That is bull. He has the coach/es there to talk to during every break to work out bowling changes, and plans for certain batsmen etc - and he STILL shows no nous, generally following the ball with his fieldsmen. You can always tell a captain who has no confindence if he is adjusting the field every ball.....next time you're out there, watch him.

I agree wholehartedly with the sentiments of him as a player. He is one of the best batsmen and fielders Australia have ever had - I have loved watching him from when he was a kid but being the 'best' player on the field does not mean he should be captain - we are not 10 year olds.

I think his on-field persona including the way he addresses umpires is downright embarrassing. I know Waugh was a hard nut but he never (AFAIK) abused an umpire as captain and would be pretty freakin' sure Taylor didn't either. I

Everytime I see him interviewed or doing an interview I am still amazed at how little he has to offer - Just shows you can't media-train class or personality.

Warne is the best captain we never had. And yes I know his personality would have affected the marketability of the Australian team in the short-term, but I think it was a risk worth taking when the choice was made. Instead they picked someone who got in a fight in the Cross over a transvestite with no cricket sense.

Recently I have had a definite disconnect from the Australian team and it relates directly the attitude of the team, driven by certains players like Messr Ponting & Hayden.

I am also painfully aware they will never sack him, so the only options we have are waiting until he retires or if he gives up the captaincy.....hmmmm

Frankly I would pick Warne tomorrow as skipper/spinner. Straight swap for Hauritz...and I would then put ALOT of money on us winning the series.

Great post, i agree 100%

 

[Timbo]

That's it. This is the final straw. This f**king hack has to get the f**king arse.

sh*thouse bowling changes (Cardiff in the final session being by far the worst), sh*thouse field placings, and sh*thouse selection advice by backing the members of the boys club.

This idiot has been f**king up Australian cricket since he took over. Bye bye Ricky, time to go.

Clarke is NOT the answer. He's Ponting v.2.0. Katich should be the interim choice until someone with ability is ready to take over.

And wow. As I watch, Ponting suggests he might be back 'for one more go' at test cricket in England.

It sure as sh*t better not be as captain.

 

[Matt23]

...apparently he's one of our greatest ever captains? why cos we've the last 2 world cups undefeated? IMO the previous 3 test captains, daylight :arrow: Ponting

 

[Seraphiel]

IMO the previous 3 test captains, daylight :arrow: Ponting

In the test arena, easily.

However, take a look at the teams they had to work with. Ponting has a young, inexperienced team right now - apart from himself there aren't really any 'stars'.. now compare that to Waugh who had Warne, McGrath and Hayden to name a few who are arguably some of the finest cricketers Australia has produced.

 

[kia ora storm]

Ponting did not have the likes of McGrath and Warne to dig them out of a hole if they were losing.

That makes a lot of difference...

 

[Gaba]

Ponting never had a cricket brain , should have never been captian, even with warne and mcgrath, ponting still lost games where a thinking captain wouldnt.


He should have been replaced by brett lee, who is no doubt would have been a much better captain then ponting would

at least Lee would be a thinking captain

 

[HevyDevy]

It is a bit harsh to lay all the blame at Ponting's feet. The whole Warne-McGrath thing makes a huge difference.

BUT he has also made some famously calamitous decisions as captain in the past two Ashes series.

I'd be more inclined to sack the selection panel first, however - they for me have been the No.1 problem with the Australian side the past two years.

In regards to this Ashes loss, Ponting was right with what he said afterwards: Australia at their best were better than England but they were also far, far worse at their worst.

 

[Gaba]

ponting lost a few unlosable games with warne and magrath in the team, its the fact ponting never had a cricket thinking brain, where Brett Lee would had

 

[IanG]

Well we all know why Warney was never captain. Politics.

 

[Slackboy72]

Here's a question.
Replace Ponting with Stephen Fleming and does England score 332 in the first innings? Does England hold out at Cardiff?

He may have not had the best cattle to work with but when things aren't going his way that's when you need a captain to come to the fore. Ponting is just clueless while the opposition turn 150 into 200 into 250 into 300.

 

[HevyDevy]

A bit strange for Ponting to come out and say "We should have played Hauritz".

Last time I checked Hauritz wasn't a batsman - and we lost the Test with that horrible first innings batting display.