From the SMH online today ...
"Australia's win created history for Ricky Ponting, who has now captained the most Test victories (42) of anyone, and played in more wins (93) than any other player.
Ponting moved clear of former teammates Steve Waugh as the most successful captain, and Shane Warne as the player to have been involved in the most wins."
... and the only Aussie Captain of the 20th century to loose the Ashes twice ... the leader during Australia's ugliest period of on field behaviour ... a deserter of his men ... the man who put the "i" back into the word team ... the captain of Australia during a period of undisputed opposition weakness, making victories meaningless ...
Success isn't always measured in numbers and yet we consistently make the mistake of churning out these facts and figures. Success as an Australian skipper isn't measured in victories or winning percentages. Steve Waugh wasn't our best captain but he will always have daylight as a buffer back to Ponting. Steve Waugh thought for himself, for a start. He also changed the ethos of what touring as a cricketer is all about. Without his insights into the culture of India and insistance that players immerse themselves in it and the food and the people, the citadel of India would never have been conquered. Steve Waugh delivered the Baggy Green as an icon, a symbol of what it means to be an Australian cricketer.
I could go on.
Mr Ponting can go ahead and play until he's fifty and beat all the records he can and given the hollowness of his personality, he may just do that. He's a fine batsman - one of Australia's all time top six - and one of her sharpest fieldsman in front of the wicket but the men he's surpassing will always be better than him.
Ricky is undisputed as Australia's greatest gather of records but without the bat in his hand, he is isn't even a shadow of our best men on their worst days. The Platters had it right.
On this occasion, we'll have to differ on a few counts. True, Waugh had a good record as Captain, but I would not argue he was a good captain. True, Ponting has lacked imagination as Captain on too many occasions. Unfortunately, the last Ashes series best demonstrated this. In this Boxing Day test, however, he did quite the opposite. Why now? I don't know, but hope it continues.
ReplyDeleteBut there are some other truths, in my opinion. Waugh inherited a great team from the best Aussie skipper that either of us saw, and maintained that team. Ponting similarly inherited a great team, but has recently been skipper in a period of retirement and replenishing not seen in Australian cricket since the early 80s.
However, the area where I think I most disagree is the assessment of sportsmanship. While Waugh has done wonderful things outside the game in India, not so within the game. He presided over the 'ugly Australian' period, exemplified by his not wanting the Aussies to socialize with their opponents off the field. Ponting changed this policy.
As you know, IM Chappell is not a fan of Steve Waugh. He does not like selfish cricketers and in his words 'Steve Waugh was a selfish cricketer'. I suspect that his lack of involvement in cricket administration and media is evidence that this view is held more widely. I do not see that selfishness in Ponting.
Both are very talented cricketers. Both will be recognised amongst the group of our greatest players. Neither will rank alongside our best captains.
You raise, as always, fair and well considered points. Perhaps we both suffer from cloudy prejudices caused by hero worship - in my case, Steve Waugh and in yours, Chappelli.
ReplyDeleteI am also a devotee of Chappell The Elder but on the subject of Waugh, I have always disagreed with his assessment. In the case of Waugh, harsh words metred out in the media against the then Captain were met by an even harsher response, something Chappelli was not accustomed to and enmity ensued. As I did then, I still feel the accusation of "selfish cricketer" is hard to sustain against Waugh.
Likewise, you comment about his non-involvement in the cricket media or cricket administration is drawing on the long bow. In recent years, he has used his name and influence for the lepers in Calcutta and the helping sick children with the Steve Waugh Foundation. He was a liaison to the Australian team in Bejing and a mentor in sports psychology to the Australian soccer team in the Asia Cup. Its not cricket, sure. Some would say it's a tad better than that.