Abrasive, stylish, testy and polished, words you will agree,that do not usually appear together in a sentence. This however is what epitomises Ricky Pontingwho has just announced his retirement from international cricket and is withoutdoubt the most important batsman to come out of that country since Don Bradman.High praise you might say but then he was that kind of a guy.
Someone quite capable of decimating the confidence of a newpup on the international scene. Or, slowly draining the spirit of the oppositionin tense match situations. When Rickymade his debut for Tasmania as a cocky 17 year old, he was considered by RodneyMarsh as the best teenage batsman he had ever seen.
He was unlucky to be judged leg before on 96 on his debut onthe international stage but it was but just a precursor of what would come in later years. The initial yearshowever were marked by poor scores at number 3 and he was dropped from theteam.
His initial years were marked by his presence in the ODIteam where his fielding at point and excellent stroke play made him anirresistible package. The 1996 world cup confirmed him as one of world’scricket’s brightest talents which resulted in him being recalled to the sidefor 1997 Ashes tour. He responded with a maiden century in a mammoth stand thatrescued his side from the depths at 50-4 and eventually helping his team signoff at 550 for 9 declared.
His problems off the field were however growing whichculminated in a punch up at a hotel in Sydney. This forced him to admitpublicly to an alcohol problem. Fromthis point onwards started the rise of the man who would eventually become thecaptain of the test team. Following the1999 world cup he established himself in the test side during the tour of SriLanka playing Murli and his team with aplomb. He scored a brilliant 197 againstPakistan and then moved up the ladder.
This however is not an article on the various centuriesscored by this man. Sport, we are told is an essential part of the Australianlife. Hard fought, full of hard talk but little post match rancor. And yes thedrinks will flow in the evening while sitting with mates. That is the Australiancredo. Something they expect the world to understand and adopt.
That sadly does not always happen. As India grew in statureboth on and off the field, relations between the teams grew tense. This reacheda nadir during the infamous test match in Sydney. Claiming catches that seemeddodgy and behaving aggressively with Indian journalists, he did his team nogreat favour by behaving boorishly after his team won the match. Their 16th winon the trot. That incident sadly gives us a not so pleasant insight into theman. An ambassador for the sport and his country he has never ever been able toreconcile the various roles required by a man in his position. This is not somevacuous analysis of someone whose name will certainly go down as one of thegreatest to ever play the game but a considered opinion. His teammates claim, what you see is what youget. It may seem an asset in certain situations but a little diplomacy and tactwould certainly add some gravitas to the man.
Australia and world cricket will miss the cricketer but theman..I think not.
