Ricky Ponting's international future could be in doubt if he fails to make runs, regardless of the former captain's standing in the game, Australia coach Mickey Arthur has said.
Australia play the first of a four-test series against India in Melbourne on December 26 and the debate over the out-of-form batsman's place has polarised the nation.
Many former players and pundits have demanded the 37-year-old step down or be pensioned off, while others have cited Ponting's imperious record as reason enough to allow him to decide the manner of his own exit.
South African Arthur said Ponting, the game's most successful captain and third most prolific run scorer in tests, could not rest on his reputation or his value as a mentor to Australia's next generation.
"I don't think anyone's guaranteed a start," Arthur told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Groundon Tuesday when asked if Ponting would be retained for the Boxing Day test.
"Ricky Ponting is really vital to where we want to take this team. We are really hoping that he finds his form and hopefully that form is just around the corner.
"I've backed Ricky Ponting in, like I've backed Mike Hussey in for a period of time because I think they're crucial to the development of the side.
"For our young batters, to bat with guys like that is fantastic, but, again, they need to keep giving us ammunition, they need to keep giving us performances.
"Nobody's guaranteed a start, nobody's got a privilege to play in the Australian cricket team. They've got to be producing the goods and giving us ammunition to play."
Arthur, a member of Australia's five-man selection panel along with captain Michael Clarke, will meet with the other selectors later on Tuesday to decide Ponting's immediate fate.
News source by:- http://cricket.yahoo.com/news/
No comments:
Post a Comment