The radical policies adopted by Cricket Australia in a bid to reclaim the world No.1 ranking were demanded 10 years ago by John Buchanan, Ricky Ponting says.
However, Australian captain Michael Clarke believes they have already taken the first step towards being the world's best with their dramatic second Test win in South Africa.
Former skipper Ponting, 36, is under even more pressure to perform after new selection chief John Inverarity earmarked a change in direction with youth and rotation policies applied to the Test team.
But Ponting fully backed the new stance, saying cricket should have adopted it years ago.
"I think it's the way the game should have gone a long, long time ago," Ponting said on Monday.
"I think the way things have turned out at the moment is what (former coach) John Buchanan was asking for 10 years ago.
"It's a much more professional approach."
Preparing for his 157th Test this week against New Zealand in Brisbane, Ponting also supported Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur's appointment as selectors - a dual role he also wanted when he replaced Steve Waugh as captain.
He felt Clarke was in a better position as a selector as he would have more control of the team to go along with the amount of responsibility that captaincy brought.
The new CA stance is the blueprint for getting Test No.4-ranked Australia back on top in all formats.
Clarke said the two-wicket win in Johannesburg showed Australia had all the hallmarks of a No.1 team.
"What I did take out of South Africa was the courage and the character of the blokes in this team," Clarke said.
"It shows the group the hard work is starting to pay off.
"We know we have a lot of work to do get back to being the No.1 team in the world but I think we have started that."
Clarke did not believe the youth policy put any extra pressure on the likes of Ponting, despite speculation he could retire after the second and final Test against the Black Caps in Hobart.
"I don't think you can look at a number (age) and say, if you are above this, you shouldn't be playing cricket for Australia - that's not fair at all," he said.
"It's about performance and the combination of youth and experience (in the team)."
Arthur said he would consider any player if their form warranted selection - even outcast Simon Katich.
Asked if the youth policy spelt the end for Katich, he said: "I don't think the door is closed on anybody - it is what you need at one given time.
Meanwhile, Arthur said variation would be the key when the rookie pace attack was finalised - but wouldn't be picking NSW youngster Mitchell Starc "just for the sake of having a left armer".
A look at the Gabba deck on Tuesday will help selectors decide whether Starc, James Pattinson or Ben Cutting will carry the drinks.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Those who heckled Ravi Rampaul shamed Mumbai and India
Ravi Rampaul (C) is elated after dismissing Sachin Tendulkar on 94 on the fourth day of the third and final Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“When I went back to the boundary it was not all that nice,” Ravi Rampaul said about being heckled by the Mumbai fans. That statement was more saddening than the fact that the widely-anticipated Tendulkar hundred didn’t materialise.
The hype and the expectations built around the much-awaited 100th international hundred was given a further boost as Tendulkar started majestically. There was nothing uncertain as he drove, flicked and cut boundaries with supreme authority. That he was stopped in his tracks by Rampaul, if anything, should have been applauded by the crowd. Getting your star batsman who is in such wonderful nick takes effort and intelligent cricket, which exactly was what happened at Wankhede Stadium.
Boorish behavior by a small section of the crowd is a sad commentary not only on the spectators present or even Mumbai but a shame on the entire nation. One recalls the standing ovation given by the spectators at Chennai in 1999 after arch-rivals Pakistan defeated India in a tense game where Tendulkar played a valiant innings of 136. We once had the situation of the Indian captain recalling a batsman who had been declared out in a Test match, since he held the spirit in which the game was played as more important. Recalling some of these landmark instances, one could take some comfort that we are not an unsporting cricketing nation, be it the spectators or the players.
There have been instances galore of games being disrupted by crowd behavior but for the most part this has been owing to some situation of the game. There have also been instances where players have been taunted as it happened with Andrew Symonds copping abuse again, unfortunately, at Wankhede Stadium.
Where damage is done, the best course is to engage in acts that could redeem the situation to the extent possible. One wishes that the Indian team, or even better Tendulkar himself, conveys a message to Rampaul expressing regret over the behavior exhibited by some mindless morons - clearly not true blue cricketing fans. That may assuage any ill feelings that the abused player suffered, who incidentally is of Indian origin.
More importantly the ground authorities now need to have in place security people who watch the crowd and not the game, and eject anyone disrupting the game or bringing disrepute to the county by their behavior.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saeed Ajmal ranked number-one ODI bowler in the world
Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has rocketed to the top of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers following an impressive series performance against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.
Ajmal took 11 wickets at an average of just 16.27 and an economy-rate of less than 4.00 to help his side to a 4-1 series win. That effort won him five places on the latest rankings and puts him at the top, just ahead of two other spinner, Daniel Vettori of New Zealand and England’s Graeme Swann.
In what has proven to be a very successful series for members of the Pakistan attack, two other bowlers – Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez – have shot into the top 10 with Afridi now occupying seventh position and Hafeez one place further back.
And it’s not just the Pakistan bowlers who are making moves up the rankings. With an average of 53.66 for the series, Umar Akmal has gained six places on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen and now sits in 11th spot. There is no change, however, in the top 10 of the batting chart with South Africa’s Hashim Amla still leading the way followed by his team-mate AB de Villiers in second.
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