During last few days every possible self-righteous and so called game-experts, past captains and commentators have had a dig at Ponting for his decision to bowl part-timers on the fourth day of the Nagpur test to make up for the slow over rate.
I am absolutely gobsmacked how every tom, dick and harry has suggested how Ponting should have gone for the ‘kill’ without having to worry about the slow over rate. Bowling a certain number of overs per day is a rule of the game and what is expected of a captain is to ignore any such rule in the pursuit of victory and accept the penalty. So much for the spirit of the game!
Does that mean it is acceptable to ‘break’ the rules of the game intentionally to win a game? I think that warrants even a bigger penalty than what is already in place for not being able to bowl the required number of overs in a day.
Surely, cricket has become anything but the gentlemen’s game.
Well done to the Indian team for their performance and the way they emerged victorious. As far as the Australian team’s loss is concerned, a captain is only as good as his team, so stop blaming one man for the series defeat.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:06 am
ponting didnt do anything wrong on Indian tour,It was indian team who played good cricket.The only thing ponting wasnt able to do correct was to respect his senior team mate Brret lee and use spinners properly.Ponting is a very good player and a true australian who has always given his best for Australian flag and pride.Go ponting go ausi ausi ausi oye oye oye (just saying this to motivate australians to perform better lol)
Enjoy
Tarun Dhalwal