On Dec 8, 1995 Ricky Ponting made his Test debut against Sri Lanka, batted beautifully, before a dubious umpiring decision ended his innings four short of a well-deserved century. Fifteen years and 150 Tests later, the man voted as the cricketer of the decade, goes into the Boxing DayTest with the Ashes level at 1 - 1 and his future hanging in the balance. Despite Australia’s win at Perth last week, questions remain about the future of the 36-year-old, who has scored just 83 runs in six innings this Ashes.
Ponting began the series facing the ignominy of becoming the first Australian captain in 120 years to lose three Ashes series, and, the 267-run win at Perth notwithstanding, nothing has changed. Ponting’s finger injury during the Perth Test has handed some of the momentum to the English. Whether he wins his race against fitness or not, Ponting with his current form, fragile finger and the weight of history on his shoulders isn’t giving any English bowler sleepless nights.
Despite calls for Ponting, Australia’s most successful captain, to step down, it wouldn’t be unthinkable that, motivated by a 23-year unbeaten home record, he will produce a match-winning knock - after all this is a man with 12,333 runs and 39 centuries second only to Sachin Tendulkar. Two years ago, pundits were talking of Ponting as the only batsman who can, and some insist will, catch up with Sachin’s batting records. But, the ICC rankings revealed that Ponting had dropped out of the top 20 batsmen for the first time since 2001, while the Little Master hit a landmark 50th century against a high quality South African bowling attack.
Australia have slipped to number five in the world rankings and Ponting has scored just 3 centuries in his last 25 tests. Last time, England toured Down Under, they were whitewashed in the farewell series of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne - two of the pillars on which a decade of Aussie dominance was built on. But, memories of the dominance is fading, and Ricky Ponting is the last remaining great in a team of underperforming senior players and overawed youngsters.
Irrespective of the outcome of the series, Ponting has to make way for either Micheal Clarke or Shane Watson. And the reality is that this Ashes will determine how Ponting will be remembered - legend or loser. A loss followed by an extended spell of mediocrity will tarnish the legacy of one of the finest players ever. So, Ricky, it is time to take your final bow.
