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[vividgreen]

Great player
Hard as nails

He taught England a few things about how to win and the manner

Thank you for that but your time has come

Goodbye legend

Well quoted...

[PeteW]

As a captain of an international team he was a terrible role model. He regularly lost his temper on the field and was fined multiple times for showing open dissent towards the umpire - most memorably his ten minute on field rant at Aleem Dar in 10/11 Ashes. He was also famous for trying to get opposition captains to agree to accept a fielder's word on contentious catches even though his team was notorious for claiming blatant drops.

What do you think young cricketers out there who've seen his antics on the field (and are now witnessing the adulation he is receiving) will think is acceptable behaviour on the pitch?

[alba caerulea]

Blimey MM you've dropped Compton already Cut-throat selection style not seen since the days of Illingworth!

From the combined XI, I would have to argue against Siddle, granted he's a tryer but so is my labrador. Pattinson if fit provides much more threat in my opinion

I am confident that England have a better team going into these Ashes series BUT if Australia get and keep Pattinson and Cummins fit they will have some genuine firepower for the first time in a while

[Johnny]

Not sure if Trott would make it into a combined XI at the minute.

[Manormanic]

Compton - yes, I have.  I just think that Root is going to be the man going forward.

Siddle - has done pretty well of late and would be a good enforcer for an attack fronted by Anderson and Finn. 

Trott.  Best of a bad pair, but has the advantage of a great record and the thought that anyonbe can struggle for a game or two.

[vividgreen]

Cowan
Warner
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Patterson
Siddle
Cummings (or Starc, if not fit)
Lyon

Granted the English have a more settled side, giving you the edge at the moment, but now that watson is back in the team and most likely Khawaja will come in for Ponting because he has an excellent technique required for the top order (and is in form), the team will play the next series together and gain some more momentum before the ashes - The best bowling team will win the ashes.
The key for Australia is getting them fit. Patterson, Siddle, Cummings will be a good combo.
Patterson for his sheer stump to stump venom with away swing, Siddle as the workhorse who wears his heart on his sleeve and Cummings as the x-factor (height, speed, swing), backed up by the under rated Lyon and Watto's partnership breakers, lets not forget about Clarke's ability to bowl.

Can't wait, its like watching a juicy T-Bone steak grilling on the BBQ - mouth watering..... I'll be there at Lords....

[ajmw89]

It's not just getting the bowlers fit, it's keeping them that way.  All the aussie young guns seem to keep breaking down.  Maybe it's too much too young...

[vividgreen]

It's not just getting the bowlers fit, it's keeping them that way.  All the aussie young guns seem to keep breaking down.  Maybe it's too much too young...

Seems like its only a recent trend of the last year or 2

Your possible right or is it a case, "the kids of today are just not as tough as the kids of yesterday".

Most kids are consumed by xbox, ipods, etc and just don't do the physical exertion that past kids did - riding bikes, playing sport all day long, climbing trees, etc.  When i was young, i had nothing but a bike, football and cricket bat and lived and breathed it - mum wouldn't see me all day.

I know in sport (as i coach juniors) everything is regulated and this breeds mediocrity and weaker sportsman - each kid gets rotated and there are limitations on how many overs one can bowl and how balls one can face before having to retire. This frustrates the better cricketers and keeps the weaker cricketers in the sport longer who deprive the best cricketers the opportunity to improve and excel. What happened to survival of the fittest and the pecking order in sport, where you had to earn your spot.

This make you tough, which in turns makes you stronger when you get into the senior ranks.

or do you think, that us parents are making our kids play too much sport too early because we all want the next Flintoff, Federer or Tendulkar..........

Now this is a discussion for the masses - will be interesting to see what people think.

Might be worth creating another thread for comments....

[PedalsMcgrew]

I think you'd have Hussey in there purely on current form, maybe Shunt Watson up to open and Ditch Warner 

Agree! Not a fan of Warner at all, flat track bully, will get found out over here! Watson on the other hand is a top player! The current Aussie team is definitely 'getting there' the batting looks strong if they can find an extra couple of players. As for the bowling I have my doubts whether any of their seamers (other than Hilfy and Siddle) will actually stay fit long enough to make a difference. What is it with Aussie fast bowlers? So fragile! My own thought on it is that if the Aussie back room boys concentrated more on getting them to bowl within themselves and do something with the ball and less on getting them to bowl at light speed then they might find their bowlers last more than 2 tests in a row! I've seen so many 90+ Aussie bowlers recently who can't seem to last a session let alone a series. You'd think they might have noticed by now!

[PeteW]

Seems like its only a recent trend of the last year or 2

Your possible right or is it a case, "the kids of today are just not as tough as the kids of yesterday".

I'm really struggling to think of fast bowlers who haven't struggled with injuries throughout their careers. The only one who springs to mind is Styen (who I can't remember ever having a long lay off). But the vast majority have problems - just thinking of England quicks of recent years - Anderson (especially early in his career), Broad, Tremlett, Onions, Bresnan. The Aussies too: Johnson, Lee, Tait

With the playing schedule the way it is it's just something a modern professional fast bowler has to deal with.

[tim2000s]

I would have to argue against Siddle, granted he's a tryer but so is my labrador.

Like

[The_Bird]

On the whinging that Punter did after the Gary Pratt run out, he was on Talk Sport today and spoke very highly of Ponting after the event. He received loads of memorabilia off Ponting a year or so later as a gesture.

So the 'he's a (No Swearing Please)' opinion isn't gospel I don't think.

[i12breakfree]

Great player
Single handedly killed India's chances in the 2003 world cup final ...still remember those one handed sixes that he hit
Amazing fielder
Certainly one of Australia's best
It will be interesting if he comes back as a commentator and sits in he same box as gangly or Hussain

[Colesy]

He may not be my cup of tea off the pitch, but my god was he a world class cricketer. People often took his fielding for granted but he's one of the best in that discipline and then there was his batting, even for an Aussie I loved watching him bat

[Buzz]

This is quality - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/nov/30/joy-of-six-ricky-ponting

it includes a link to a video of Ricky Ponting's fielding - run outs only.

It lasts 55 mins!!!!