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Calcutta/Sydney: Matthew Hayden thinks that it’s “disgraceful” of the national selectors to drop Ricky Ponting from the ODI team which forced Australia’s most successful captain to terminate his 50-over career.
Slamming the selectors, Hayden said Australia was searching for a star, who may not exist, and should instead be “celebrating” the fact that Ponting was still playing. “It was disgraceful treatment of our modern-day Bradman,” Hayden said.
The following are what some of his peers had to say (alphabetically)
Matthew Hayden: It was disgraceful treatment of our modern-day Bradman. I am speechless. The logic that Ricky (Ponting) was left out, so that we can prepare for the next World Cup, is just lost on me.
It just looks as if he is being pushed further and further away from the team and I don’t understand why... we should be celebrating the fact that he is still around and available to play.
We are trying to rush him out the door to find another Ricky Ponting, yet I cannot see who the next Ponting is. What message is this sending to other cricketers around Australia?
You have a batsman who averaged 100 in his last Test series against India and he gets treated like this. It’s outrageous.
Brett Lee: Ricky Ponting has been a wonderful teammate… He has been a great ambassador for the game and a brilliant cricketer, almost akin to Sachin Tendulkar. Ricky is obviously going to be sorely missed in the Australian camp. The dressing room will seem quiet and empty now without him. He added a lot of value to the team both as player and captain.
Mark Waugh: Ponting expects to succeed and he’s not there to take any favours or shortcuts. He’s a tough player and he wants to play to the end.
He still thinks he’s good enough and fit enough to keep playing for a long time, and he’s going to play until the selectors say he’s not good enough.
He’s not going to be pushed into retiring because he thinks the selectors are going to drop him. He’s happy to take it on the chin if he does get dropped. That’s the sort of guy he is. He’s got a great attitude. He’s a tough competitor on and off the field.
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