Michael Clarke retires: Ricky Ponting backs Australia captain's decision
Clarke has learnt from my mistake, says Punter
Sunday 9 August 2015 08:17, UK
Ricky Ponting says Michael Clarke has made the correct decision to retire from international cricket following Australia’s Ashes defeat.
Clarke, 34, will represent his country one final time in the fifth Test against England at The Oval - his 115th Test - before calling time on a Baggy Greens career that has seen him plunder 36 tons across all formats.
Ponting continued to play for Australia for a short period after relinquishing the captaincy to Clarke in 2011 but is pleased his successor has chosen not to follow suit.
“Since I retired I have realised I went on too long and Michael doesn’t want to be in the same boat."
“I think it’s the right time as he has been fighting inner demons and battling his game for the last 12-18 months,” Ponting said of Clarke, who is averaging just 16.71 in the 2015 Ashes.
“Since I retired I have realised I went on too long and Michael doesn’t want to be in the same boat -you need to get away from the group and give the new captain his space.
“He deserves to finish at The Oval and hopefully with the weight of the series off, we can see him make a big score.”
Australia’s defeat by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge – sealed on Saturday morning when Mark Wood castled Nathan Lyon – consigned them to a fourth straight Ashes loss in England.
Ponting says there is enough quality in the Baggy Greens’ domestic set-up to arrest that alarming slump but has urged the cricket hierarchy in his homeland to produce better pitches.
“The systems we have in Australia will guarantee that we will continue to produce good cricketers and it’s only a few months ago that this Australia team was winning everything,” said Ponting.
“But we have got to get back to producing first-class wickets in Australia that are going to have our players better prepared for English conditions.”
Ponting also saluted England for regaining the urn, just 19 months after they were decimated by an on-fire Mitchell Johnson and thumped 5-0 Down Under.
The ex-batsman pinpointed England’s team spirit as a major reason for the turnaround, as well as their potent pace-bowling unit.
“England have seemed more relaxed than the Australian team from the first game,” added Ponting.
“They look like they have enjoyed themselves and enjoyed each other’s success, while their attack is now as good as I’ve seen 2005.”
Coverage of the fifth Ashes Test from The Oval begins at 10am on Thursday, August 20, live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fifth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
