Ponting ruled out of first Test

[Danny]

The Aussies are in trouble....losing to England and losing their Captain in the same game. That elusive win in India could be slipping through the fingers.

Wisden Cricinfo staff

September 22, 2004


Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain, has been ruled out of the first Test against India at Bangalore, which starts on October 6, with a fractured left thumb. The injury occurred while Ponting was fielding at slip during Australia's loss to England in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston yesterday, with diagnostic scans revealing a break. Ponting will return to Australia for medical consultation, with his prospects for the rest of the series yet to be determined.


"Ricky was in considerable pain overnight and got very little sleep, so we had the injury seen to as quickly as possible today," explained Errol Alcott, the Australian physiotherapist. "The scans have detected a fracture in his left thumb, and we feel that it is in his best interests to get home now and receive the best possible medical advice. We can't make any bold predictions about a return date for Ricky until he has seen a hand specialist back in Australia."


Ponting, who averages almost 56 with the bat against India in Tests, expressed his sadness at missing the first Test, but backed his side to fill in admirably without him. "I'm obviously very disappointed but have great faith in all of my team-mates to do the job in my absence," he said. "I'll do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible, but to achieve that I will have to be guided by the experts. I desperately want to be on that plane to India, and if everything goes according to plan, I'll still be able to play some part in the series, sooner I hope, rather than later.


"In the meantime, the boys know exactly what needs to be done because we have put a great deal of work into preparing for this tour. This series means so much to us all. It could be one of the biggest Test series ever played, so to be missing the start of it is really disappointing."


Ponting's replacement in the 16-man squad is yet to be named, and the position of captain will also be reviewed in his absence.


© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

[Monica]

Adam's been second fiddle to both Waugh and Ponting for a long time now, so now's his big chance!


Gilchrist ready for Indian challenge

Wisden Cricinfo staff

September 24, 2004

Adam Gilchrist does not have especially fond memories of his last tour to India, in 2000-01, when he followed up a brilliant 122 at Mumbai with scores of 0, 0, 1 and 1 in his final four innings, as Australia lost a thrilling series 2-1.

And, as if the added responsibility of keeping wicket was not enough to be worrying about, this time around he has been landed with the captaincy as well, following the thumb injury that has ruled Ricky Ponting out of the first Test.

That is a lot of pressure to pile onto any individual, especially seeing as Australia are seeking their first series victory in India for 35 years, but Gilchrist – who has won two and lost one of his previous three matches in charge – was typically phlegmatic about the task ahead.

"I don't see it's going to be any tougher than what I've experienced previously as captain," he said. "Obviously the conditions there are fairly extreme, but we've played a lot of cricket there now and we know what to expect.

"It's a great challenge," he added. "I'm looking forward to it, and then you throw the captaincy into it again. But there's nothing you can do from the moment the bowler walks in and releases the ball. You can't do any more as captain, you've just got to switch purely into keeper mode.

A tour of India is the final frontier for any Australian captain. The task proved to be beyond even Steve Waugh when he was captain, so Gilchrist is well aware of the pressure he is under. "It's going to be demanding," he conceded, "but I think I've got great talent and cricketing nous around me to make sure that we can do it."

Gilchrist was appointed as Australian vice-captain way back in 2000, but he had no qualms about being overlooked for the leading role following Waugh's retirement earlier this year. "Ricky was actually the best man for the job," he said, adding that the intensity of the wicketkeeping role made it impractical on anything other than a one-off basis.

"On a fulltime scale I totally agree [with the decision]. But I'm more than happy to take the selectors' backing in thinking that I can do it on a short-term basis, given the nucleus of this team. I don't necessarily see it as me taking over the leadership - it's a bit of a cliche, but I see it as the leadership group taking it on.

With a brains trust that includes Shane Warne, Darren Lehmann, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath, he is not going to be short of sidekicks when the Bangalore Test gets underway on October 6. "I'll toss the coin, I'll be accountable, but there's so much experience there and guys that are experienced on the sub-continent."

But, he concedes, he will need to blank out the peripheral factors – the heat, the noise, the intense crowds – if he is to improve on his performances in 2000-01. "I got worn down last time," he said. "I was worn out by the end and I think that showed in my keeping.

"I think that's more mental too," he added, "because my batting [suffered] too. I think a lot of us were pretty worn out." But on the plus side for Australia, they did enjoy a successful tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, triumphing 3-0 in spite of the most intense heat and humidity.

But ultimately, Gilchrist is simply holding the fort until Ponting returns from injury. "The loss of Ricky both as a player and a captain far outweighs any personal satisfaction of getting this job, believe me," he said. "Like I've said whenever I've filled in before, I won't be trying to change anything or make my imprint on this team, I'll be trying to keep the ship going."

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

[Monica]

Brad Hodge named as Ponting's stand-in

Wisden Cricinfo staff

September 23, 2004

The Victoria batsman, Brad Hodge, has been named as Ricky Ponting's replacement for Australia's tour of India, which gets underway this weekend. Ponting, who broke his left thumb while dropping a slip catch during the Champions Trophy defeat against England on Tuesday, has flown home to Australia for treatment, and will miss the first Test at Bangalore.

Hodge, who is currently on holiday in Queensland, has shown outstanding form for Victoria and Leicestershire over the last few seasons, and his call-up is due reward for his efforts. "We were looking at a specialist batsman to come into the squad for Ricky," explained Australia's chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns. "Given Brad's consistency and his skills against spin bowling, he was the clear choice. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity and I'm sure he'll acquit himself well to the conditions if required."

Ponting, who hopes to become the first Australian captain since Bill Lawry in 1969-70 to win a Test series in India, was naturally gutted at his misfortune. "I'm obviously very disappointed, but have great faith in all of my team-mates to do the job in my absence," he said. "I'll do everything I can to get back as quickly as possible, but to achieve that I will have to be guided by the experts."

Ponting's bad break is not the only setback to Australia's preparations this week. It was announced on Thursday morning that Darren Lehmann would also be flying home to attend a personal matter, although he at least intends to be back in India in time for the first warm-up match, against the Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai, on September 30.

Ponting's prognosis is less clear, however, and the Australian team physiotherapist, Errol Alcott, said it was too soon to say when he would return to action. "We can't make any bold predictions about a return date for Ricky," he explained, adding that the final decision would be made by a hand specialist back in Australia.

"I desperately want to be on that plane to India," said Ponting, who endured a painful, sleepless night on Tuesday. "If everything goes according to plan, I'll still be able to play some part in the series, sooner I hope, rather than later.

"In the meantime, the boys know exactly what needs to be done because we have put a great deal of work into preparing for this tour. This series means so much to us all. It could be one of the biggest Test series ever played, so to be missing the start of it is really disappointing."

In Ponting's absence, Adam Gilchrist has been named as Australia's stand-in captain, while the young batsman, Michael Clarke, is the most likely man to fill his shoes in the middle order.


© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

[Danny]

Also ruled out of the Second test.