Tag Archives: Ricky Ponting

Too soon Rick

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Excluding the little slog period after tea today, Australia batted for 61 overs to score 219 runs at 3.6 rpo.

So now we declare giving them 24 overs today and a further 90 tomorrow totalling around 114. The target is 375 so they’ll need to score at 3.3 rpo to win the test! Given the history of this series so far that’s not even a long shot!

So now Ponting finds some balls! A shame he didn’t use them in the 4th Test in India, but balls are balls. The Saffas have a real shot at winning this test now. Personally I’d have batted another hour till we were 450 ahead then let em have it.

We should still win, and with a slight possibility of showers tomorrow Pontings’ given us the best chance of taking 20 wickets. If we are to lose though….

Edit: Douggie just got his first Test wicket! Sure it’s Morne Morkel but he’s an opening batsman now.

A Dissenting Boon

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Here’s some vintage footage from 1987/88, and I believe it does a great job of illustrating how the administracrats have taken the fun out of the game. What’s wrong with a little passion? What’s wrong with a little bit of confrontation? This is a great spectacle and is a world removed from the sanitised game we get these days.

Boony reckons he got a roughie on this lbw decision, to be honest it looked pretty out to me – maybe struck him outside the line of off but it doesn’t even approach Aleem Dar’s level of incompetence circa 2005.

What I love about this clip though is just how pissed off the little Tasmanian gets. Swearing his head off at the umpire and all the way to the boundary and then some. The crowd duly pitch in with the búllshít chant and everyone gets on with the game.

I wonder what penalty Boony would cop for this under today’s ICC Code of Conduct? It’d have to be a Level 2 offence minimum as he is definitely “showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action” in addition to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator.” A Level 2 offence would cop a 50% to 100% of match fee fine in addition to a 1 Test or 2 ODI ban.

Here’s a few recent examples of dissent and the penalty imposed

Level 1 offences

Lecture

Stuart Broad questioned the verdict of umpire Russell Tiffin to award a wide.
“I got called into the match referees’ office for dissent, but it was just a talking-to, nothing more than that.” said Broad “I’d have probably been fined my whole match fee if my dad had been the ref”

20% fine

Jacob Oram was given lbw by Australian umpire Steve Davis and openly showed his disgust at the decision by glaring at his bat then punching it on his walk away from the crease.

30% fine

Ricky Ponting was fined for moving from his fielding position towards the pitch as part of his appeal, appearing dismayed by the umpire’s decision and in the wake of that decision appearing to make a comment to the official.

40% fine

Adam Gilchrist pleaded guilty and was found by match referee Jeff Crowe to have breached the ICC’s code of conduct when he questioned a run-out decision by umpire Aleem Dar during a one-day international against South Africa.

Level 2 offences

65% fine

Virender Sehwag was on Sunday docked 65 per cent of his match fee for exchanging words with Umpire Billy Bowden after he was declared leg before wicket on the fourth day’s play on Saturday. Considering his past record, it was decided to only penalise him with a fine.

75% fine

Moin Khan stood his ground after being given out leg-before to Irfan Pathan by Simon Taufel on the fourth day of the match.

Hey Ricky, give Katto a bowl!

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Left Arm Chinaman

Left Arm Chinaman

There was never much argument for dropping Krejza, who was bowling well, taking wickets and causing batsmen trouble. Sure he went for some runs, but so did Lee, Siddle and Johnson as we conceded the second highest 4th innings total of all time while failing (again) to take 20 wickets. The WACA is hardly a renowned spinners paradise, so blaming the slow bloke for a total tail fail was never going to cut it with me.

Sure our spinning stocks look depleted, but replacing a genuine attacking off-spinner for Ashley fúcking Giles is beyond obscene. This Queensland reject can’t even get a start for his new state who already depleted with 5 players on National Service. To look at the spinning options available he’s unlikely to feature in a top 5 of those who are actually playing domestic cricket, many of whom can also bat. Anyway, looks like we’re stuck with the prick while the quicks take wickets from the other end, and at least he can help us draw matches with his defensive lines.

What really has me stumped though, is what the hell is wrong with Ponting that he just refuses to bowl Simon Katich? After giving him for a few overs early on in India and seeing how well he turned the ball he’s been pretty much completely ignored with the ball. Perhaps the aggression that Katto brings to the task of bowling that doens’t fit with Pontings ideals of a metrosexual bollywood singing bowler?

If fit, Katto’s bowling record should at the very least get him at few token overs. Let us compare him to our specialist spinner, Nathan Hauritz.

Katich has taken 87 1st class wickets to Hauritz’ 81, despite Hauritz having bowled 40% more deliveries. Katto averages 37.8 compared to Hauritz 47.2, roughly 20% less. His strike Rate is 62.5 compared to Hauritz 93.8, which is to say it takes Hauritz approximately 1/3 more deliveries to pick up a wicket than Katich.

Katich has bowled fewer balls in 4.5 times more matches, so it’d be a safe assumption that he bowls many fewer overs per match. In spite of this, Katto has three 5 wicket hauls to Hauritz none.

Best figures in a first class match? 7/130 for Katto, again shades the Queenslanders best figures of 4/95.

Ponting in denial of reality

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How fúcking good am I?

How fúcking good am I?

Ponting give yourself an uppercut! How about praising the Saffas for outplaying us in the 4th innings and, I can barely believe this myself, not choking for a change?

Instead what do we get from the inbred hairy armed Tasmanian reject? Well, firstly he blamed the WACA pitch for not deteriorating

“I think there’s certainly an advantage to batting second on this ground.”

Well here’s a brainwave Einstein, you won the fúcking toss, why did you choose to bat? I know you only play a match every four years but do you not at least follow the Sheffield Shield?

Next move, he blames the bowlers! Sure Lee, Krejza and Siddle claimed 3 wickets between them and need a barrage of uppercuts (especially bollywood Brett), but to neglect to mention the failures of the batsmen when Hayden, Hussey and Ricky himself scored 56 runs between them in 6 Innings deadset embarrassing.

“We have to look at that,” Ponting said after the defeat. “We have to think about the style of bowlers we’ve got in the side at the moment, with the conditions that we’re going to be confronted with in Melbourne and Sydney work out if we think they’re the best guys to win us the next two games. If they’re not then we have to make some changes.”

So, when did Ricky become a selector? Why no mention of the 5th day of defensive fields when we needed wickets to win the game, and how bout some batsmen who score runs?

Perth Test Player Ratings and Reviews

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Matty Crane

Matty Crane


Matthew Hayden

-15/10 – So completely and utterly shít that he destroys my “out of 10 scale” before it’s even begun. Useless fat bástard should have gone out on top in 2006, he’s surely only in it for the money now. The selectors talk about picking players on form, now is the time to act on this. I have so much rage for this Queenslander.. let me count the ways:

  • Not seeing off the new ball – The primary KPI for an opening batsman is to see off the new ball. In the 13 innings of the 7 Tests that he’s opened this season, Hayden has seen off the new ball twice.

  • Not scoring runs – Secondary KPI for opening batsman is to go on and make a total. During this season he has returned scores of 0(3), 13(40), 0(3), 29(20), 83(154), 16*(29), 16(26), 77(93), 8(16), 0(1), 24(36), 12(13), 4(22). That’s an average of 23.5 (35) [only 12 outs]
  • Old – he turned 37 last month. He’s got 1-2 years on India’s fab 4, even the retired Ganguly is a year younger.
  • severely out of form. His scratching around in our second innings was an embarrassment to watch and further degraded his legacy as a world class batsman. He is now the Denny Crane of Australian cricket.
  • In the way – so much talent is waiting for Hayden to just fúck off. If Phil Jaques were still fit I’d like to thin he’s already gone. Chris Rogers had a shot last year and since moving to Vic has been averaging 83. Sean Marsh top scored in the IPL against world class bowlers while retaining traditional straight strokeplay. Philip Hughes is averaging 59.52 and at only 19 years of age is a superb long term prospect.

Simon Katich

7/10 – Saw out the new ball in each innings in the face of a fired up new ball attack thanks to the moron scratching around at the other end. Played a solid intelligent knock in both innings by leaving anything not on the stumps and turning anything on the pads for a single. Rotated the strike in spite of his goose of a partner. Didn’t give chances until the ball that got him in each innings, and is responsible for turning Hayden’s best efforts at embarrassing team totals into respectable scores. Was unlucky I thought in the first innings to be given lbw to one sliding down leg on 83, but hey, shít gets wickets.

Ricky Ponting

the Batsman – 2/10 – Damn ordinary effort, first ball duck against a pumped Ntini and failed to make amends in the second innings. Still on track for 1000 runs this calendar year but his recent form is far from impressive.
the Captain – 3/10 – outplayed Graeme Smith in the first 3 innings, but that’s not really a glowing commendation. Could have tried something, anything while allowing the Saffas to accumulate the second biggest winning 4th innings total of all time for the loss of just 4 wickets. How about giving Andrew Symonds, Simon Katich or even yourself an over. How about slapping Brett Lee around the head with a wet fish. I’m no fan of this graceful meandering towards the inevitable loss, attack till the bitter death and go down bowling at their heads. At least it’ll quicken the pain.
I truly believe it’s time to hand over the captaincy reigns, Katich, Clarke or Hussey couldn’t do any worse than Rick the díck.

Michael Hussey

3/10 – A rare failure for the Huss, he’s fúcked his average (down to a depressing 61.56) and will be keen to make amends on Boxing Day. While some of the blame for his first innings failure can be given to the muppets above him, his dismissal immediately after Ponting in each innings makes me feel he’s a bit high in the batting order. Moving him back to 5 could be beneficial to the record books. Didn’t see much of him couriering caps around the field either.

Michael Clarke

5/10 – The saviour of our first innings collapse. No number 5 batsman should be coming to the crease at 3/15 in the third over, however Clarke stood up and stopped the rot. Scratchy early in his innings as seems to be his style, once he was in he gained composure until a brain fart cut short what could have been a match turning innings. Failed to make a meal of good conditions in the second dig and ultimately this test will go down as a disappoint for pup as it’s one that he could have taken out of South Africa’s hands.

Andrew Symonds

6/10 – Good starts but failed to capitalise. We need more than 57 runs from our specialist number 6 batsman and I don’t care how annoying their spinner is, spooning it to Mid-On is asking the selectors to reconsider his position. His form looks pretty good but to stick around as a specialist number 6 he’ll have to learn a Test match temperament and will need big runs in Melbourne to keep the sharks at bay. Maybe a few nights on the píss in the silly season will help him to regain his focus. Tough to gauge his all-round contribution considering Ponting didn’t give him a single over in the 4th innings, maybe he’s injured?

Brad Haddin

9/10 – Superb rear guard from the New South Welsh champunisher.. His batting with the tail is improving every knock and while we’ll probably never find another Gilly, we’ve found a new Healy. Can’t begrudge his getting stumped trying to bring up the ton with a 6, that’s the way he bats. Good to see someone wipe that smile of freaking Harris face too.

Jason Krejza

5/10 – I wasn’t expecting huge things from him in Perth and was predictably disappointed with his match aggregate of 1/204 is a very ordinary return when compared to his opposite number Paul Harris who accumulated 5/155! Lacked control and penetration with the ball, however he did trouble all the batsmen and if his control improves will be a real weapon, and his nut to claim Amla in the first innings was a deadset rip-snorter. It’s his batting that elevates him to a 5/10, as his 30* and 32 provided a real sting to the tail as his considered strokeplay and strong cutting made the saffas suffer long after they were due.

Mitchell Johnson

10/10 – Surely this must be the greatest performance in a losing test match? 11 wickets including the best spell of fast bowling I can remember, perhaps challenged by the West Indian greats of the late 70′s who at least had support from the opposite end. Seems to be loving the move to Western Australia and is now surely our number 1 strike bowler. It’s time for Mitch to get the new rock, he is now clearly leading our attack.
There is now solid proof that a player from the winning team will always win man of the match, regardless of the game situation.

Brett Lee

1/10 – Another disappointment from Lee. Bowled with fair pace but was consistently out-sped by Johnson. Match figures of 1/132 are a very ordinary return from an alleged spearhead who has never taken 10 in a match or 6 in an innings. Has struggled since his marriage brake up, and should be feeling some pressure from Watson.

Peter Siddle

3/10 – Has done a great job of learning Brett Lee’s tricks, and never looked very threatening with the ball. Match aggregate of 1/148 could have been so much more, last chance in Melbourne then it’s time to give Douggy Bollinger a shot at the project paceman spot.

The WACA

Two losses in a row to the home side, it’s time for the curator at the WACA to lift. Still not green, bouncy or swingy enough for my liking and heads need to roll for this.