The London Evening Standard reports tonight that Ricky Ponting will be here in time to play for Surrey against Derbyshire at the County Ground this coming week.
Be honest. Ponting v Chanderpaul is the kind of duel that should have the cricket connoisseur sighing wistfully for a good part of the four days. Two of the greatest batsmen of the last twenty years in opposition on OUR ground.
If you can get down there, even for part of the game, you should try to do so.
In an era when the greatest names in international cricket seldom make it to these shores, this is one of those times when you can say with a degree of confidence that we may never see its like again.
It isn't yet confirmed by Surrey, but that really would be something special.
It leaves me remembering the tale told by the late, great Sir Neville Cardus, who was going to see the great Australian batsman Victor Trumper play for his country against England at Old Trafford as a gauche, excitable schoolboy.
As he lay in bed the night before the game, Cardus told how he clasped his hands together and prayed harder than he had ever done before.
"Please God...let Trumper score a hundred and England bowl them out for 150..."
For Trumper read Ponting. I doubt few would complain at that turn of events...
In other circumstances I might agree that it's an exciting prospect, even more so if Kevin Peterson makes faster than expected progress and starts his return in the same game. However, I can't think of anything worse than a lift for Surrey. We need them to be as flat as possible for this game, so I'll settle for no Surrey superstars making their first appearance of the year. Sadly, Compton probably will be available to Somerset by the tie we play them, and looking to make a point after a poor series against New Zealand.
ReplyDelete