Gotta laugh at people who wanted Ponting out purely based on age.
Its such lazy logic.

Fact of the matter is though, he was old AND not performing to standard. I would have had no qualms if he'd been dropped. As it is, he's finding form again. Although that says more about India's bowling than Ponting's batting.

Ponting should have been out by a mile :lol:

Almost run out on 99. Lols.

So far he is the batsman of the series

Yeah, like I said, he's regaining some form. But:

Since 1st Jan 2009 (Not Including this test): 2081 @ 36.5
Since 1st Jan 2007 (Not Including this test): 3455 @ 39.7

He's been under performing for a long time now. That, combined with his age, should have seen him dropped.

Can't even make 200, drop him

Ponting's biggest problem right now is that he gets dick all support from the batsmen around him.

An average of 36.5 deserves being dropped?
Crikey!

Yeah, Clarke only got to 250 today.

I think it's more in comparison to his career average of 52.36, it shows he's not performing to his standard and he's being selected on yesteryear's glory.

My point exactly. Clarke gets 250 today and Ponting kicks on. When Clarke was out of form and giving him less support, Ponting played like my grandmother.

Just got back from the SCG.

What a fucking knock. What a fucking day. Absolutely brilliant. :D

Michael Clarke, have my babies, son!

Well yeah, it does.

15 or so years ago, that wouldn't have been the case. But when an average innings is... 400 odd(?) now, a player averaging in the 30's as a top order batsman doesn't cut it.

Hardly. Averaging under 40 with the bat in the top 6 wouldn't be a test standard for at least 60/70 years. And even then just barely.

Yeah...just looked back at the guys from the previous generation...
Hayden: 50.73
Langer: 45.27
Martyn: 46.37
S. Waugh: 51.06
M. Waugh: 41.81
Gilchrist: 47.06.

Ponting's average over the last 5 years being in the 30's clearly isn't up there.

And Ponting's average is better than the lot.
The only player on that list whose average didnt drop in the latter part of their career was Steve Waugh.

Ponting's average is better than the lot. But not over the last 5 years it hasn't been.

Hussey gets his century with a quick single.

Don't know why the umpires even had a look at that single for a run out. Absolutely pathetic.

Clarke now has the highest score eve by an Australian captain in Australia.

That 4 brings up the highest ever individual score at the SCG.

Edited by gooner4life_8: 5/1/2012 12:25:21 PM

So from being 3/37 Clarke, Ponting and Hussey have gone 1/544. Just ridiculous.

Clarke has also become the 4th Aussie to be involved in two 200 run partnerships in an innings.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 5/1/2012 12:29:49 PM

That's nuts :lol:

Plus two double hundreds in ODIs in two years which had never happened before in history. It's insane :lol:

299...

4/597. Jesus.

300 up for Pup.

Almost wanted him to get out on 299. Never liked the prick. Fair effort but.

Clarke must love being captain in this situation, doesn't have to worry about the declaration before he gets out or reaches 401 :lol: I wouldn't declare anyway, bat the rest of the day see how many Clarke can get and then have two days to bowl India out.

He'd have a declaration target in mind, but if I was him I'd just keep going. I mean you've got a 400+ run lead with still 2.5 days left just go for it. His next target should be world record :lol:

First time in history that a team has posted two 250 partnerships in an innings.