Thought I'd post a brief blog on something thats been bugging me recently; Ricky Ponting. I am a born and bred Englishman living in WA and nothing pleased me more than to see the triumphant English squad celebrate their historic ashes victory over Ponting's men. Up till now I had hated Ponting, believing him to be an arrogant and sulky man who jumped to find an excuse for any cricketing mishap at every opportunity.
However seeing him there as he looked on at the cheering English team, surrounded by a largely hostile English crowd at the Oval screaming with ecstasy at their victory, I felt true sorrow for him and his team. Prior to the fifth test match, his four pace attack squad decimated England in one of the most comprehensive victories in Ashes cricket. It is no surprise that Australia opted for four pace bowlers for the next match, hoping for a mirrored repeat of the previous performance. The fact the pitch was suited to spinners was an oversight on the selector's part, and England took the initiative in a thrilling match.
So. With the Ashes in English hands once more, it leaves Ponting as the only Australian captain in 119 years to lose the Ashes twice in England. A negative blemish absolutely, but now we have the media and others calling for his dismissal as captain, and this is where the hate for Ponting dissolved completely. He has well and truly copped some serious flak for this Ashes defeat, and maybe some of it is justified but has he not proved he is at least a good captain? Under his leadership Australia has dominated cricket for the better part of a half decade, and for him to leave the captaincy on this note would be a gross injustice to Ponting himself. He misses Warne and McGrath without a doubt, but he still lost the Ashes in 2005 even with their presence on the field.
Thus it leads me to my main point. I believe Australia's desire to beat England and their denial of the truth has led it to demand a scapegoat for the humiliation. Perhaps Australia forgets that England, while not the greatest force in cricket today, still commands a certain respect and perhaps losing to them should have been expected anyway. It was merely a 2-1 loss to a team lifted due to Andrew Flintoff's last game at their home ground.. In short; Australia you are jumping the gun, this is most unfair to one of your greatest cricketers since Don Bradman himself.
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