Ponting fears for Test cricket's future

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London, Mar 13 (PTI) Australia skipper Ricky Ponting says the future of Tests is at stake under the onslaught of Twenty20 cricket, fearing the huge cash offered by tournaments like the Indian Premier League could draw players away from the traditional five-day format.

"There's a really dangerous thing going on at the moment," Ponting said.

"I gave the Bradman Oration last year and I stated that what I want for the next generation of Australians is to do what I've done: play 150 Tests and represent their country for a long time.

"But something in the back of my head says that their focus could switch from that to being attracted by the glitz and glamour of Twenty20 and the money that might be around," he told 'The Wisden Cricketer' magazine.

Ponting's fears escalated when a survey conducted by the Australian Cricketers' Association among the 25 contracted players revealed that only a minority feels Test cricket as the ultimate achievement.

Almost half the players felt "balancing playing for your country and competing in the new Twenty20 competitions" as the most important issue facing world cricket, while a third thought Test cricket, in its current form, would become obsolete in 20 years' time, the magazine reported. PTI

Ponting won't play in IPL II, to focus on national duty

MELBOURNE: Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Thursday revealed that he will skip this year's Indian Premier League to concentrate on national commitments.

"My country comes first and there was no way I could give my all for Australia if I used the only two-week break we have to go and play in India," Ponting, who is contracted with the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, wrote in his column in 'The Australian'.

"I have been talking with my team, the Kolkata Knight Riders for a month or two now and in the end my only choice was to withdraw from the 2009 competition, but I will most certainly be back for 2010 when I hope to be able to make a much greater contribution," he said.

Ponting, who is currently in South Africa with the Australian squad for a Test and ODI series, thanked Knight Riders for letting him go this time around.

"The franchise has been fantastic about the whole thing and I want to thank them for their understanding," he wrote.

The Australian skipper said he could have played in the IPL for two weeks but said it would have been unfair on both Knight Riders and the national team.

"And then there was the issue of giving up the chance to be with my family for a fortnight. It is always hard to leave Rianna (wife) and I cherish every second I spend with my daughter Emmy."

Ponting said part of his decision not to play in IPL this year was that Twenty20 cricket was physically demanding and he wanted to preserve himself for the World Cup of the shorter format in England in June.

"Part of the reason I decided to withdraw from the IPL is that Twenty20 is such a physically demanding game and you have to be at your best to play the game and I want to be at my best for the (Twenty20) World Cup. I am really in good physical shape at the moment but have to admit that there is a bit of tiredness after the summer.

"It (not playing in IPL) is not an indication of any intention to ease myself out of Twenty20 cricket. I am really looking forward to the (Twenty20) World Cup. It's one trophy we do not have on the shelf and have never had," Ponting said.

"I have given no thought to not playing any form of the game or retiring from any form of the game. I love captaining my country and will not let go while I have a contribution to make," he added.

The Australian skipper said he would catch up Knight Riders' progress in the second edition of the IPL on television.

"It will be painful not to be with the Knight Riders and I am going to be sneaking out in the night to catch as many of their matches as I can on the television," Ponting said.

http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ponting-to-miss-IPL-to-focus-on-national-duty/articleshow/4156951.cms

Punter punched!

ADELAIDE: He is an international cricketer who has scored over 10,000 runs in Test cricket and over 11,000 runs in One-Day Internationals, but Australian captain Ricky Ponting failed to get bat to ball against a plucky 10-year-old survivor of Victoria's bushfires on Wednesday.

To the crowd's delight, and with a wry smile, Ponting headed for the sheds as the youngster, Koby, took over batting duties.

"I was actually trying today," news.com.au quoted a grinning Ponting, as saying. Not bad for a boy from Kinglake who had the day off because his school Middle Kinglake Primary was razed in Saturday's inferno.

Ponting's misfortune at the crease was part of a whirlwind visit by Aussie cricketers to the Whittlesea Tennis and Cricket Club Oval which has been transformed into a firefighting staging area and relief centre for those left homeless after the fires that ravaged Kinglake and a string of other small townships in the area. Ponting described meeting families traumatised by Saturday's bushfires as "very moving and very hard".

http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Punter-punched/articleshow/4114984.cms