The Strauss-Ponting bust-up at the end of play.....

[Chesney Christ]

I don't get this hostility to Ponting, which seems (as above) to go well beyond banter.

With the exception of the Gary Pratt incident, he's always struck me as a fair-minded and decent bloke, as well as being a brilliant batsman. There have been plenty of Aussie captains who have been bloody-minded sods (two Chappells, latter-day Border spring immediately to mind) but Ponting doesn't strike me as one of them. There was a good piece in the Guardian yesterday saying that Ponting was one of cricket's good guys which is line with what I've always thought.

In fact, I'd say that this Australian team could do some with the nastiness and aggression of some of the older players, perhaps they're too nice.

I agree with you completely.

Ponting seems like a good guy, who is extremely competitive and sometimes lets his short temper get the better of him. Ponting-baiting is all part of the fun though isn't it?

I like it when Ponting gets wound-up, but I have enormous admiration for him as a player and a person. He is one of the greatest batsmen of his generation. People need to remember that. He will be sorely missed. In full flow, he is the best player in the world to watch, bar none. Even Tendulkar isn't as fluent, in my opinion.

The only thing that does really grate with me about Ponting is his attitude to umpires.

 

[highway61]

I'd agree with your general tone regarding Ponting, but with regards to this specific incident, what the f*** does he think he's doing? As Michael Vaughan said on TMS, don't try acting the leader now, Ponting. You should have been doing that hours ago. Walk away.

Vaughan was right. Of course the batsmen were going to run down the clock, the damage was done with some shit Aussie batting, not by missing out on one over which was debateable anyhow.

He clearly was pissed off by the fact that the three wickets that went early would have ultimately, any other day have contributed a good few runs, but it impacted pretty much the same as the hat-trick that we suffered at Brisbane. both those periods of play resulted in a total that was maybe 100-150 shy of what they ideally wanted.

 

[Trigger]

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[CHAPPERS]

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My favourite is the guy in the crowd applauding that.

 

[Pavilionaire]

The pressure is beginning to tell on Ponting.

There's no doubt England had the psychological advantage going into the test. That 517-1dec was a body blow which, in turns out, was enough to remove both Aussie frontline bowlers in Johnson and Hilfenhaus.

Our 3 wicket burst at the start of the day must have messed with Ponting's mind, as he had practically all day to sit on the balcony and stew while Australia were bowled out cheaply.

I don't think he has the supporting cast to help him out here. We must never write the guy off because 39 centuries is some feat, but you look at the England sides stability and the sum total of their personal runs, wickets and averages and you realise England definitely have the better team, and it's beginning to show.

Personally, I'd like to see Pietersen score big here. He's been quiet so far but if he starts firing then there should be clear blue water between the teams.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Was just banter from me. My impression of Ponting is that he has always been a bleater - happy to moan when it suits him and very happy to bend sportsmanship where it suit him and his team. Mind you - for years the aussies were never under pressure - so easy for Ponting to be gracious. Not so much now.

Loving this - really hope our batsmen don't let us down tomorrow.

 

[highway61]

The pressure is beginning to tell on Ponting.

There's no doubt England had the psychological advantage going into the test. That 517-1dec was a body blow which, in turns out, was enough to remove both Aussie frontline bowlers in Johnson and Hilfenhaus.

Our 3 wicket burst at the start of the day must have messed with Ponting's mind, as he had practically all day to sit on the balcony and stew while Australia were bowled out cheaply.

I don't think he has the supporting cast to help him out here. We must never write the guy off because 39 centuries is some feat, but you look at the England sides stability and the sum total of their personal runs, wickets and averages and you realise England definitely have the better team, and it's beginning to show.

Personally, I'd like to see Pietersen score big here. He's been quiet so far but if he starts firing then there should be clear blue water between the teams.

certainly. What would be perfect really would be Strauss Cook and Trott getting at least good starts, but ultimately for KP, Colly and Bell to shine. Then we would have had the top 6 batsmen all on song. of course i would love everyone to get big scores!, but in this scenario Ponting wouldnt even have a England player to target, which in the past he has

 

[highway61]

certainly. What would be perfect really would be Strauss Cook and Trott getting at least good starts, but ultimately for KP, Colly and Bell to shine. Then we would have had the top 6 batsmen all on song. of course i would love everyone to get big scores!, but in this scenario Ponting wouldnt even have a England player to target, which in the past he has

add to that the length of Aussies tail. 8,9,10,11. We have the better batsmen there for sure

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

add to that the length of Aussies tail. 8,9,10,11. We have the better batsmen there for sure

That was entirely the reason Haddin got out. Knew there was nothing to come so started hitting out. The six could easily have gone down Swann's throat. Shorter tail and they could have farmed runs for hours perhaps. Great to watch.

 

[rcf0712]

I'm lovin' this shit, Ponting is right up against the wall here - job on the line, this series is warming up very nicely indeed - should be a good competive day's test cricket tomorrow.

 

[ROSM]

This is why I LOVE test cricket. You get to see the real personalities, you form little likes and dislikes, individual battles form (such as Hoggard to Langer in 2005), you have days of tension building up. There is no other form of cricket that has the same effect.

It's the tension, the drama, the buzz, the atmosphere

Got him! yess. Piss off you're out

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[mcshane in the 79th]

I quite Ponting and think he is, or has been, a tremendous bat(s)man for Oz. He has been shown up time and time again for poor captaincy though

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I'm lovin' this shit, Ponting is right up against the wall here - job on the line, this series is warming up very nicely indeed - should be a good competive day's test cricket tomorrow.

So glad the weekend is here so I can stay up a watch it! Gutted to have missed it last night

 

[Gritt23]

I have nothing but respect for Ponting, I think he's been one of the best batsmen I've ever seen, an amazingly good fielder, and has had to steer the ship through some incredibly tough waters. It's not his fault the procession of World Class players has dried up, but the expectation of the Australians (until very recently) seems to have been of continued dominance.

He comes across as very competitive, and someone who can get riled when things aren't going well, but so what at least it shows he cares. I absolutely love his toughness as well. Not just batting, I remember seeing him getting whacked in the mouth fielding at silly point. With blood pouring from his mouth he just spat the blood out and carried on fielding there. How long would our tough footballers have been rolling round on the ground if they had a bleeding mouth wound?

That's not to say of course that I find it anything other than hilariously funny when the toys do come out of the pram. It's essentially the Internation Call Sign for "Australia are in the brown stuff."

Marvellous scenes.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I don't get this hostility to Ponting, which seems (as above) to go well beyond banter.

With the exception of the Gary Pratt incident, he's always struck me as a fair-minded and decent bloke, as well as being a brilliant batsman. There have been plenty of Aussie captains who have been bloody-minded sods (two Chappells, latter-day Border spring immediately to mind) but Ponting doesn't strike me as one of them. There was a good piece in the Guardian yesterday saying that Ponting was one of cricket's good guys which is line with what I've always thought.

In fact, I'd say that this Australian team could do some with the nastiness and aggression of some of the older players, perhaps they're too nice.

Come off it, he even polarises Australian public opinion, many of them have never taken to him with the way he carrys on. You're only thinking of incidents with England, but the man has had many bust ups, refused to walk on a number of occasions, back chatted and shown open descent to umpires - the Aussies don't like all that even from one of their own.

 

[rcf0712]

So glad the weekend is here so I can stay up a watch it! Gutted to have missed it last night

Enjoy it tomorrow mate, starts at 8am in Perth tomorrow, thankfully the bedroom tv has a great Channel 9 picture - see you in the morning Richie, SpongeBob can have the big screen.

 

[larus]

Ponting is/was a great batsman. The general view is that he's a poor captain (in terms of understanding the tactics of a game and 'feeling' what needs changing).

It's very easy to captain a team if it runs itself, as they were doing when they had world class players throughout the team, Warne, McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Langer, Gilchrist, etc. That lot didn't need to be 'captained'; can you imagine anyone telling Warne about his field settings, or telling McGrath where/how to be bowling?

A good captain makes more of his lot than the sum of the parts; that's where England have tend to go wrong (and i guess so many other teams). We so often seem to pick the 'best player'. Flintoff, Botham and this rarely works.

You need someone who can inspire/motivate; like Mike Brearley or say (different sport) Martin Johnson. Brearley was regarded as a great captain and an OK player. Johnson used his persona to inspire his team-mates.

I don't see that in Ponting; I see someone who doesn't handle the pressure well. It's easy when it's going well or you know that you are the better team.

I think Strauss is a good captain; he seems calm, tactically quite good and has the repect from the team.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Ponting is/was a great batsman. The general view is that he's a poor captain (in terms of understanding the tactics of a game and 'feeling' what needs changing).

It's very easy to captain a team if it runs itself, as they were doing when they had world class players throughout the team, Warne, McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Langer, Gilchrist, etc. That lot didn't need to be 'captained'; can you imagine anyone telling Warne about his field settings, or telling McGrath where/how to be bowling?

A good captain makes more of his lot than the sum of the parts; that's where England have tend to go wrong (and i guess so many other teams). We so often seem to pick the 'best player'. Flintoff, Botham and this rarely works.

You need someone who can inspire/motivate; like Mike Brearley or say (different sport) Martin Johnson. Brearley was regarded as a great captain and an OK player. Johnson used his persona to inspire his team-mates.

I don't see that in Ponting; I see someone who doesn't handle the pressure well. It's easy when it's going well or you know that you are the better team.

I think Strauss is a good captain; he seems calm, tactically quite good and has the repect from the team.

Spot on. Some of Ponting's field placements are at times laughable. As you say he didn't have to think about it as much when he had the likes of McGrath/Warne bowling

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Enjoy it tomorrow mate, starts at 8am in Perth tomorrow, thankfully the bedroom tv has a great Channel 9 picture - see you in the morning Richie, SpongeBob can have the big screen.

Cheers. Is that Mark Nicholas chap still doing Channel 9's coverage too? Always liked him when he was on Channel 4 over here. Sky have got some great commentator's too, so much better than football.

 

[Barry Izbak]

...... the poisonous little weazel-faced crim.

Brilliant !

I don't have Sky, but watched the first hour down the pub last night. The whole place went nuts when the poisonous little weasel faced crim was out.
Marvellous scenes :dance: