John Inverarity Up For The Job

Ponting - tapped on the shoulder

In the hardest call to be made in Australian cricket over the easiest matter, John Inverarity announced today that Ricky Ponting, one of the greatest players to play in the ODI format anywhere and for anybody, had been dropped for the remainder of the current CBA Series and in all likelihood has had his 50 over career ended.

Spanning 375 games, Ponting has been every bit as good in 50 over cricket as he has been in Tests. In fact, it is ironic that he ends his career as a winning captain, after resigning from the role to lengthen his career. Amid controversy last week, which was none of his making, he was again elevated to the captaincy when Michael Clarke was injured. What was unknown at that time was an agreement between Ponting and Inverarity that should the little champion's current batting form continue to slide, that either of them would approach the other and call it quits. It is consistent with the Ponting who has played under siege for the past twelve months that it was Inverarity who had to make the running and made the phone call first. Ponting, it has has been warmly reported by the Chairman of Selectors, took the news manfully, being described as being disappointed but taking the news on the chin.

There is no doubting the problem of his form, with only 18 runs coming from his five innings in the CBA Series and no double figures among them.

Ponting is said to be considering his future. Without short form cricket to play, there is just the tour of the West Indies with its three Tests left before next season. Suddenly, despite splendid Test form this summer, his stated desire to go to England in 2013 looks a lot further away when the gap between then and now is bridged by only Test cricket. Of course, there are matches to be won for Tasmania and he'd get a wild card to any Twenty20 tournament in the world and earn a fortune from it. The real question of desire may finally hit Ponting full in the face, as despite all the media pressure and calls for his departure before the summer started, he never really believed he would be dropped - not because he thought he was too big for it to happen but almost entirely because of his self-belief that no matter how bad things got, he would find the innings to turn it around.

The fact that hasn't happened will dent this great champion and must make him ask whether he wants to go on. He must confront the question of why go on and what further appearances in the Baggy Green will achieve.

In a romantic world - the one Steve Waugh was allowed to end in - Ponting would have been afforded a final trip around the country to be applauded and thanked. He has, of course, had just that in a summer in which he received standing ovations every time he walked down the race. Even with Sachin Tendulkar wandering out in search of what may be his own Bradman ending, stuck on 99, it was Ponting who got the crowds off their feet and had them smashing their hands into red mush.

In the end, maybe its time to finally go. Any small sequence of failures between now and England will rightly bring Inverarity and his men on the phone line again and an exit forced on him, just like the announcements today. Better to leave of your own will and under your own decision. True champions have always been able to do so.

Ricky Ponting is expected to speak with the media on Tuesday from 11:00pm. Coverage on FOX and ABC News 24..

Related Posts (the last of which proves the most prophetic):
Ponting Honoured (26/1/12)
Australian Selectors Name & Explain (21/12/11)
The World According To Adams - Don't Panic (14/12/11)
Can He Do It Again? (21/11/11)
Well Played Skipper (11/10/11)
Something To Be Said For Ponting (15/9/11)
Ponting Jumps Halfway (29/3/12)
Ponting's Time Is Up (SMH 27/3/11)
Alas Poor Ricky, We Knew Him Well (22/3/11)
The Problem With Ponting (29/12/10)