Thursday 29 November 2012

Memorable, for sure...

Ben Slater and Peter Burgoyne are in the formative stages of their cricket careers but neither is likely to experience a more remarkable game than the one completed today by their Southern Rocks side against the Mountaineers in Zimbabwe.

The Rocks side cannot have expected first innings lead when they were bowled out on day one for just 164, but their opponents were in turn out for 159. A first innings lead of five runs looked largely academic when the Rocks were bowled out in 30 overs for just 58, Burgoyne's 12 being one of only three double figure scores.

That left the Mountaineers a victory target of just 64 and with Test batsman Hamilton Masakadza and Essex batsman Mark Pettini in their side they must have fancied their chances. Yet they in turn were bowled out for just 26 in 15 overs on a wicket that must have been like a beach by the end.

Memorable doesn't come close to describing it and Dave Houghton can be rightly proud of his young side tonight.

In Australia, Usman Khawaja's hopes of big scores to stay in the minds of Aussie selectors after Ricky Ponting announced his retirement were dashed somewhat by two single figure scores against his old New South Wales side. He was dismissed lbw by Doug Bollinger on each occasion and would have hoped for better against erstwhile team mates.

Ponting's announced retirement from the international game appears likely to be followed by one from all first-class cricket at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on a career where he will be remembered as one of the great batsmen of the era. At his best, "Punter" could play any kind of game and was a batsman of genuine class. His captaincy was criticised more than that of Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, though they had the benefit of an outstanding group of cricketers at their peak. Ponting had to oversee their descent from lofty peaks and the loss of world-class player after player.

As Clive Lloyd found with the incomparable West Indies of the 1970s and early 1980s, with four fast bowlers, Richards, Greenidge and Haynes you couldn't go too far wrong. The Australians had similar giants in McGrath and Warne, while Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer and the Waugh brothers were up there too. Ponting lost them all in turn and you simply cannot replace players of that calibre and maintain standards.

There may be suggestions of a county option for Ponting to finish off his career, but I don't see him doing that. I suspect a media career beckons, where he will undoubtedly do very well.

And be remembered as a legend.

PS Sports Personality of the Year looks like being a close competition this year. Team of the Year? There's only one though, eh?


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