Although his powers are unquestionably on the wane, it is still ill-advised to write off Ricky Ponting as many sections of the English media have done throughout the current Nat West series. Ponting proved this mantra yesterday where his 92 coupled with 99 not out from Michael Clarke and a strong performance from his bowlers, saw Australia ensure the ignominy of a series whitewash was emphatically prevented.
It certainly wasn't a classic Ponting innings in the vein of his imperious hundred in the 2003 World Cup final, but it was a mighty effective one and proof that there is life in the old dog yet.
Murmurs that Ponting is not the player he was have reached a crescendo in recent months and come following bowlers such as Kemar Roach demonstrating that the previously impregnable Australian captain has a few chinks in his armour against short-pitched fast bowling.
Since the start of 2009, the stats also show that Ponting's powers are not what they were. In 17 tests, he averages 42.44 with only two hundreds (and in the second of those against Pakistan at Hobart he was lucky not to be dismissed for 0 after Mohammad Aamer dropped a dolly), whilst in 49 one day internationals, the average is 41.36 with three hundreds. These are stats that Ian Bell would be proud of, but not what a batsman who ranks alongside Tendulkar and Lara as the best since Viv Richards would expect of himself.
However, as that comparison with the Little Master from India and the stylish Trinidadian would suggest, Ponting's powers at his peak were more akin to Gandalf from Lord of the Rings rather than a mere mortal batsman. And whilst the excellent conversion rate from 50 to 100 has fallen dramatically in the last two years, as he proved in the Headingley test last summer, Ponting still has the power to take the game away from the opposition in a session.
Andrew Strauss will certainly not write off his counterpart yet especially as his record against England is so good - despite Ponting's waning powers, his one day average against England since the start of 2009 is 59.12 and he averaged 48 in last summer's Ashes.
Ponting's stated aim is to finally captain Australia to an Ashes victory in England in 2013. It is doubtful that he will get as far as this tour if his decline continues at the same rate, but he will very much be a threat to England in the winter where he will expect to make his customary Ashes hundred at the Gabba.
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