Ponting's gamble has backfired

Allowing Ricky Ponting to play the Boxing Day Test despite a broken little finger was a mistake, writes Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald. It was a big risk to take with his future, and the injury is taking longer than usual to heal.

Not only was the Ashes campaign undermined by this decision but the World Cup campaign might start on the wrong foot. For that matter the career of a fine batsman has been put in peril. From start to finish it was wrong. Of course, this is hindsight. At the time, emotions were running the show.

But there is a lesson to learn. Sometimes the brave and the stubborn need to be protected from themselves. That is the role of elders.