Ponting says he is the right man to lead Australia
SYDNEY: Amid calls for Ricky Ponting’s sacking and questions over his tactics, he has said that he is still the right man to lead Australia in the next month’s Ashes series with England. As per details, Ponting arrived home late Thursday from a 2-0 Test series loss to India to be greeted by calls from former Test paceman Geoff Lawson for him to step aside as skipper.
Ponting was publicly criticized by former Test teammate Shane Warne for his field settings during spinner Nathan Hauritz’s bowling during this week’s second Test loss to India in Bangalore. Ponting’s leadership is going under mounting pressure ahead of the five-Test home series against England after Australia lost three consecutive Tests for the first time in more than 20 years.
To a question regarding his captaincy by media, he said that he was the right man to captain Australia this summer. “Absolutely, I’ve got no doubt about that at all,” he declared.
He said it was disappointing over there (India) but, he added, that was the game of cricket. “I’m still learning about my own game and my captaincy and if the other players can learn a bit from that trip then it should hold us in good stead for the summer.”
He underlined that he always gave his absolute best when he played for his country. “I’m trying to do my best as captain to help some of these guys through some difficult times,” he said.
Lawson has called for Deputy Michael Clarke to lead Australia against England at the Gabba in Brisbane from November 25 saying Ponting had now lost five series as skipper, and relieving him of the captaincy would allow him to focus more on his batting.-SANA
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