Ponting's fall from stratospheric heights

[SciD]

Only thing common in Tendulkar and Ponting is that both are not very tall.

Ponting is still the same batsman he was. Its just that its easier to bat when your team is winning everything without even sweating.

He has more chance to score 100 if he crosses 40 runs mark than Tendulkar due to his fitness and aggressive nature.

 

[sohum]

Excellent stuff Sohum. It's my hope that Ponting can adapt his game a bit more to his current level of play. What do you think, has Tendulkar changed his method? eg. Put away certain shots or playing with different intent? His role in the batting order is still the same, so I'm wondering whether it was mental or physical problem in those blip years.

It was a bit of both, I think. Physically, the last few years have been the first time that Tendulkar has had long runs of injuries. I think they coincided with his blip in form--with that recurring tennis elbow injury. Since he has fully recovered from that, I think he has changed his style of play quite a bit, as well. One cannot discount the fact that he is now part of a solid and able batting line-up and hence there is less pressure on him to score. He's also mostly gotten rid of the dominating-type of innings that he used to play, although he still turns that on occasionally. Basically, I think he has modified his style of play to be a little more conservative. He can afford to do that because the Indian team is in a peak, relatively speaking. Ponting, on the other hand, may not have that luxury because this may be the first time in his career that he needs to perform for his team to succeed, on a consistent basis.

I think part of Ponting's recent slump - and an issue he'll never complain about - is his wrist which I think he's been having problems with for a couple of years now. Couple that with his recent elbow problem and it's obvious he's not quite right. But I think he's got some mental issues too, particularly with his shot selection. Whether he gets his wrist right eventually, I'm not sure, but hopefully we can see him back to a 55+ average guy because he's great fun to watch play.

Yeah, I'd say most slumps are a combination of injury and mental causes. As they say, when you're in nick you don't really think about things like footwork, shot selection, etc. When you're injured you're thinking a lot more about not aggravating that injury again. I'm sure we'll see Ponting see a second-life--he's too good a player not to be able to adapt. The real question, I guess, is whether the Australian selectors will afford him the patience to do that.

 

[rahuldravidfan]

Yeah, I'd say most slumps are a combination of injury and mental causes... I'm sure we'll see Ponting see a second-life--he's too good a player not to be able to adapt. The real question, I guess, is whether the Australian selectors will afford him the patience to do that.

A major mental cause maybe the rigidity and stubbornness to change an approach. We've seen many players in the past doing that. Ponting isn't a guy who would do something like that coz although he's a bit over-the-top at times, I think he's a fairly responsible player at the end of the day and a decent captain. And tbh, the Aussie selectors have no choice really than to persist with Ponting until he completes the transition coz Australia are short of options. And unlike the past, where there were players to replace the great Steve Waugh, there aren't any to replace Ricky Ponting

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

you forgot dravids birthday today, non-fan.

 

[rahuldravidfan]

^ I didn't. But chose not to exaggerate it here like Phillip Hughes' "talent" :laugh (j/k)

 

[aussie1st]

He can afford to do that because the Indian team is in a peak, relatively speaking. Ponting, on the other hand, may not have that luxury because this may be the first time in his career that he needs to perform for his team to succeed, on a consistent basis.

You pretty much summed it up in your post, I do wonder how he would go if the other batsmen stood up if he failed. As so far when he fails we pretty much are guaranteed of a score around 150. So that continues to build pressure on Ponting and his injuries compound the problem.

 

[sifter132]

Yeah, I'd say most slumps are a combination of injury and mental causes. As they say, when you're in nick you don't really think about things like footwork, shot selection, etc. When you're injured you're thinking a lot more about not aggravating that injury again. I'm sure we'll see Ponting see a second-life--he's too good a player not to be able to adapt. The real question, I guess, is whether the Australian selectors will afford him the patience to do that.

Well I think even if he got a string of ducks he'd still be the first guy picked for the Ashes next summer. The 2013 Ashes is definitely wishful thinking if he can't get it right.

But anyway, personally I think we've got a number of guys who could bat at #3 well - Watson, Clarke and Katich stand out to me right now. So I don't see a massive problem if Ricky falls apart. I think he'd be more missed as a figurehead than anything as he seems to be pretty inspirational to the younger players.

 

[drainpipe32]

Punter has to reinvent himself, Tendulkar style. No doubt, if he can't do that he can't claim to match Tendulkar

 

[Cricketman]

I reckon Ponting won't change his game and will still be a great batsman. Won't be the superhuman that he was in the 2000s, but he'll still average 40s from here on out which is great in the twilight of ones career. I see him doing an Aussie style retirement from ODIs soon though so he can extend his time in test match cricket.

Sachin, on the other hand, changed his game totally after the 90s. Tendulkar back then was Virender Sehwag squared plus he was very consistent in all forms of the game, but now plays at a more mortal pace but the runs still come one way or another. I don't think Ponting will change his game as much as Sachin did.

 

[drainpipe32]

Not too many Australian players retire from ODIs just so they can play tests. Only Shane Warne in recent times, and he really was pushed to it.

I suppose you're right about Ponting, he hasn't really got anything to change about his game. He just needs an eased burden.