New Ponting rises out of the Ashes
Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald notes the humour and discretion that Ricky Ponting has displayed during the Ashes and argues that 2009 has been Ponting's best year.
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald notes the humour and discretion that Ricky Ponting has displayed during the Ashes and argues that 2009 has been Ponting's best year.
Ponting has come a long way in a few months. He has emerged as a fine leader, though not yet an astute tactician. Clearly he has the respect of his players and is relishing the opportunity to captain a bright young side. If 2008 was his worst year, 2009 has been the best. Now he stands on the edge of a substantial achievement. Holding the Ashes might not seem much of a feat. Not so long ago Australia beat this mob 5-0. Moreover the opposing side has lost its two best players. But Australia have endured numerous setbacks and still heads have not dropped. Nor has conduct deteriorated.
In the Age, Greg Baum notes a not-so-subtle gap between the attitudes of the two Ashes teams this year.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here