Oh Ricky, what a pity
In the Age , Greg Baum writes, "Ricky Ponting is perched on that precipitous threshold between a brilliant and complete career and one season too many
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
In the Age, Greg Baum writes, "Ricky Ponting is perched on that precipitous threshold between a brilliant and complete career and one season too many. If he is still good enough, a rapid succession of matches against South Africa, New Zealand and India can be his Indian summer. But South Africa is not the sort of team inclined to strew his way with palm fronds.
At the nets, Ponting is indefatigable, spending longer there than any other Australian player. As long as there is one ball left to hit, throw or catch, he will. He is whippet-fit. It is not desperation, just Ponting's way and always has been. He still loves cricket, and still hopes it might give up one last secret to him, if only he is patient. It is admirable, but now could become a complication. Ponting is toiling as hard as always, but always is not forever.
In the WAtoday, Marcus North recounts the time he faced Patrick Cummins.
The first ball goes pass my left ear before I can even react. I had that feeling you get when you just wake up after you made the mistake of turning your alarm off when you thought you pressed snooze. I had a look around the field and the placement of the fielders suggested that he seemed more interested in knocking my head off than getting me out. I thought "this kid is not just a great talent but a mind reader as well". The overs that followed were full of aggression and intimidation and I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned for my health and safety. The inevitable eventually happened, a fierce blow to the head. Thankfully the helmet took the impact and I was left just a little shaken.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo