One-day game 'should not be cheapened or diminished'
Ricky Ponting has called on the ICC to act to preserve the integrity of the one-day game as well as Test cricket
|
|
|
Writing in his syndicated column in The Australian, Ponting was critical of the circumstances which led to the scheduled two-Test series against Zimbabwe being scrapped, but agreed with the decision to call off matches "against a seriously weakened opponent".
But he then went on to argue that the one-day game needed equal protection. "At the moment it is being diluted by sides in one-day cricket, particularly in bigger tournaments such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy. These are meant to be the showcase events for our game, yet they contain many lopsided matches that were never going to be a contest.
"As players we want to be challenged and tested. We want tough competition. With so many guys now playing only one form of the game, a limited-overs international is like a Test to them. That experience should not be cheapened or diminished in any way."
And Ponting added that while countries should not be kicked out of Test and one-day internationals on the basis of a few poor results, there should be minimum standards as well as "a serious examination of what lies behind a country's national team".
Ponting's argument that tournaments should not be opened to all and sundry is clearly at odds with the ICC's thinking. In September, Australia will face the USA in their opening Champions Trophy match in England.
"There should be fewer nations playing better cricket," he continued. "That is what we want to play and that's what the fans want to see. I am not in any way denigrating players from lesser cricketing nations. But there are state sides in Australia significantly better than some of the teams we have played in recent years."
Read in App
Elevate your reading experience on ESPNcricinfo App.