Beeswax
Member
Ricky Ponting at 3
In test cricket, he is averaging 40.27 since the beginning of 2009. That is over 19 matches. (Cricinfo stats).
This would be fine if he was playing for Pakistan or the West Indies, in fact, they would probably be pleased with a 3 averaging that, but he is the skipper of Australia.
Is it time for him to move down the order?
I can't see it happening, but I think he needs to be at 5. However, we don't have an easy fit for 3. I'm not sure about Clarke yet. I would like to see Katich there, but then I'd like to see Watson at 6 and we can't get rid of both our openers at once and really when I look around the Shield comp from last year and at the Aus A team, I'm not sure who we have really knocking on the door.
There is Khawaja, Ferguson and Marsh and two of them haven't got great first class records. It's a conundrum.
In some ways, I feel like the selectors have backed themselves into a nice old corner with their 'stick with the same team' attitude over the batting line-up.
Punter has to start pulling his weight at 3 or we are stuffed in India and the Ashes.
In test cricket, he is averaging 40.27 since the beginning of 2009. That is over 19 matches. (Cricinfo stats).
This would be fine if he was playing for Pakistan or the West Indies, in fact, they would probably be pleased with a 3 averaging that, but he is the skipper of Australia.
Is it time for him to move down the order?
I can't see it happening, but I think he needs to be at 5. However, we don't have an easy fit for 3. I'm not sure about Clarke yet. I would like to see Katich there, but then I'd like to see Watson at 6 and we can't get rid of both our openers at once and really when I look around the Shield comp from last year and at the Aus A team, I'm not sure who we have really knocking on the door.
There is Khawaja, Ferguson and Marsh and two of them haven't got great first class records. It's a conundrum.
In some ways, I feel like the selectors have backed themselves into a nice old corner with their 'stick with the same team' attitude over the batting line-up.
Punter has to start pulling his weight at 3 or we are stuffed in India and the Ashes.