Not in the 27 years since Kim Hughes flagged away the national captaincy in a veil of tears and handed over to the teak-tough adopted Queenslander Allan Border has Australian cricket found itself in such a state of flux as it does at present. Border dragged the team up kicking and screaming to become World Cup winners; Mark Taylor refined it; Steve Waugh polished it and finally Ricky Ponting, over the course of seven years, gloried in it.
Perhaps, though, Ponting did a deal with the devil like Robert Johnson at the Crossroads: a chance to lead and triumph in one of the greatest sides the game has seen as one of its greatest players; an opportunity to achieve as leader things unprecedented, so much so that in desperation for competition that might stretch them they promoted the idea of playing a world XI. An intergalactic side would not have been able to challenge. But there would be a price to pay, a quid pro quo. For his side first would begin to fray, then crumble around the edges and finally disintegrate. There would be an inexorable slide towards not just normality but mediocrity at times and it would be Ponting who must preside over this downfall of a dynasty. His final series as captain of the Test side was to endure three home defeats by an innings, unheard of in Australian history, to ensure a third Ashes loss in four series. His last act as captain of the one-day side was to score a most masterly century in adversity but then shake hands with Mahendra Singh Dhoni as vanquished leader. The Australian trophy cabinet, once bulging with all the goodies the game can offer, now contains little of value beyond the lead on the roof.
It is a trade that anyone would have made though, even given those consequences . Steve Waugh played his valedictory matches knowing precisely the legacy that was there but also what the future would hold. It was a diamond-encrusted hospital pass. Timing is everything, including the exit. As has been pointed out elsewhere, Waugh, during 57 Tests in his five years as captain, introduced just six debutants to the side, and one of those was the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman who ever lived. Ponting has been in charge for 78 matches and in that time 32 players have made their debut, most of them in an attempt to replace the irreplaceable. In the last year or so, Ponting has been the one truly stellar performer in the firmament.
It is unfortunate for him that it is the manner of his going and the causes that remain to the forefront rather than what he has achieved for Australia. Under him, the side won 16 Test matches in succession. Under him, they swore revenge for the 2005 Ashes defeat and humiliated England by five matches to nil. Under his leadership, Australia did not lose a World Cup match until Pakistan beat them in Premadasa a couple of weeks ago, winning the trophy twice. Yet as he knew only too well, he is the man who lost those three Ashes series and now the fellow who surrendered the World Cup. As the most successful captain of all time he deserves to command a little more respect than that.
His successor, probably Michael Clarke, at least for now, does not have the luxury of taking over a side in the way that Ponting did. Only Ponting remains of those who lived through and tasted the real glory years. If it is Clarke he will know that things may well get a whole lot worse before they start to get better, for Australian cricket has developed a soft centre, its once formidable Sheffield Shield competition an imitation of the forge that it once was and by general consent of those intimate with both, not a patch on its county counterpart in England. Clarke may well have the presence and experience of Ponting on which to fall back, although it would be against the accepted protocol that deposed Australian captains never play on under someone else's leadership.
But even this may have its difficulties. Ponting, selflessly (for prominent among his many qualities is the absolute certainty that the team comes first) has continued to try and lead the side from batting's most challenging position at No3, his permanent home, when in his latter years, as the runs began to decline, it might have been less demanding to slip down the order. He has never shirked responsibility, never faltered, and, away from the heat on the field, has unfailingly conducted himself with patience and dignity as the same brickbats have been thrown at him.
If he has a role to play now, it must surely be as a battling but essentially paternal figure down the order. Clarke would be foolish not to want to use him as a crutch but Ponting would surely be equally wise in recognising that he can't give away the captaincy and then exert an influence. Besides which, although it would not be in his nature to offer less than 100% support should it be Clarke, and he is offered the chance to continue, it is well established that the pair are neither's cup of tea. "You wanted it that badly," he could be forgiven for thinking, "now you can get on with it. And the best of luck."
No comments:
Post a Comment