Aussies refuse to blame Ponting for Ashes flop
Australian cricketers refused to blame beleaguered captain Ricky
Ponting for the deflating Ashes loss to England as they returned home on
Wednesday.
Fast bowler Stuart Clark, one of a handful of players not required
for a limited-overs series in England and Scotland, said calls to
replace Ponting were “ludicrous.”
“Ricky Ponting has got my full support and I think he’s the best man
to be captain,” he told reporters at Sydney Airport. “I think it’s
ludicrous that anyone say anything other.”
Opening batsman Simon Katich said the whole team must take
responsibility for the second successive failure in England, both under
Ponting, which toppled Australia from its long-held number one Test
ranking.
“There was 11 of us out there that had an opportunity to win the
Ashes — you can’t just blame it on one person,” he said.
“We had our chances throughout the whole five Tests. Unfortunately
when those chances came around, whether it was Cardiff, Lord’s, The
Oval, we didn’t grab them.”
Cricket Australia has backed Ponting to stay in the job despite calls
for Michael Clarke, Katich or even retired spin master Shane Warne to
take over.
Meanwhile Ponting, who is due to arrive home later, insisted he
“couldn’t be more excited about the future” in an article for The
Australian newspaper. “While we had bad sessions at Lord’s and The Oval
which cost us both games, we completely dominated England at Cardiff and
Leeds, showing there was little between the teams,” the captain wrote.
“Coming off the back of our strong series victory in South Africa
earlier in the year, I believe we’re on the right track and our younger
players can only get better with experience.”
Australian media was left fuming over the defeat with most anger
directed at the selection panel.
“What hurts more than seeing England partying after a stunning Ashes
win? Seeing the Poms NOT hit the tiles after an Ashes triumph,” said
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, referring to England’s toned-down
celebrations.
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