Goodbye "Punter"

It's time to say goodbye to another legend of the game this week as Ricky Ponting hangs up the thigh pad and moves on to the next stage of his career. I've taken a brief look at his career, any feedback is always welcome.

http://spoutingaboutsports.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/goodbye-punter/

41 test centuries underlines the quality of his record as a batsman.  He got an excellent send off after his last first class innings, an unbeaten match-saving century at the Oval earlier this week.  

I understand that Ricky Ponting will shortly be awarded his county cap by Surrey.

Whilst the significance of being capped varies across the domestic counties, it is regarded as a very considerable accolade at Surrey. For Ponting to be awarded his after such a short time with the Club is testament to the weight of runs he has made together with the positive impact upon team mates, coaching staff, management, members and supporters.

The ultimate professional. Illustrated well for me when I had the privilege of seeing him in his final first class innings last week. On his way to an unbeaten and match saving century (as flagged by the Corporal above), he was constantly playing practice shots at the non-striker's end. Right to the end, always wanting to improve.

Farewell, Punter. Reports from his time at Surrey just serve to compound what I had expected - that Ricky Ponting was not only an exceptionally gifted batsmen - one of the big three of his era - but the ultimate team player and with an exemplary attitude toward improving yourself as a player. That note from Guildford about the practice shots is fantastic.

Thanks, Fists.

Further to my earlier post above, I'm pleased to report that Ricky Ponting was last night awarded his county cap by Surrey.

Did he retire from international cricket too soon? I ask as I am sure the current Australian batting line-up looks to be crying out for a man of Ricky Ponting's experience and stature.

Caledonian - I think he probably did retire at the right time.  He had lost the consistency at highest level and was finding this increasingly frustrating.  In comparison, Tendulker's career went on a bit too long and rather fizzled out.

Can always make the case that he would probably have done better than most of the Aussies yesterday, but I think it's a fair enough decision for someone like Ponting to want to finish his career in good order.

Like the Corporal, I tend to feel that Ponting chose the right time to bow out of Test cricket although I also acknowledge that he would have done better than most of his countrymen yesterday.

Most professional sportsmen are only able to judge when they were first past their best once they are well past their best. Another example I suspect of fine timing from Ponting in that he didn't need to wait until then.

He would have improved Australia's efforts, but would have been a shadow of his former self. I am glad I did not have to see him really struggle and raging against the fading of the light. It has been really sad for me to see Tendulkar look like a novice at times againmst england in the last two series.

hampo171 wrote:It's time to say goodbye to another legend of the game this week as Ricky Ponting hangs up the thigh pad and moves on to the next stage of his career. I've taken a brief look at his career, any feedback is always welcome.

Well, he's been such a great legend in this industry and I know that he contributed a lot and he will always be the legend to us the fans.