“Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
Dylan Thomas 1914-1953
Ricky Ponting is in the winter of his career, winter is a time of stark contrasts, with leafless trees standing bare against the landscape, exposed.
Ponting’s winter may last a season, 3 months, and post the 2010 Ashes this great batter will be gone, or it may be longer, three years.
However long he rages against the dying of the light, there will, as always be a close of day.
At the time of writing there is a feeding fenzy in the Australian press as the country comes to terms with the fact that this great cricket nation is going through a rebuiding process.
Ponting is finding himself in the midst of this gnashing of teeth as his form and leadership come into the spotlight prior to the first Ashes Test of 2010.
Ricky Ponting may quote Mark Twain,
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated”,
and continue for another three years, whilst the fires of ambition still burn bright.
Or he may decide to go at the end of this 2010 Ashes series.
Whatever the outcome, the outpouring in Australia of frustration at the inability of the next generation of cricketers to really stand up and be counted isn’t Ricky Ponting’s fault.
It can’t be laid at his door, he still plays with a passion and intensity barely matched in any of his younger contemporaries.
He has done his damnedest to shepherd them through, although potential greats have not yet appeared.
There is a lesson for Ponting in the departure of his team mate and fellow great, Glenn McGrath.
Watching McGrath hang around the side of the stage of the IPL stuck in my throat like a fish bone, it was an ignominious end for one of cricket’s greatest.
To be sitting on the benches watching lesser lights and waiting for a game of 20 20 cricket was no way for the great man to exit the stage.
There are of course lots of good reasons for Ricky Ponting to hold on:
* The welfare of the team in a challenging period.
* To be part of 1986 all over, rebuilding the Australian cricket team, like Allan Border did with Bob Simpson.
* To chase Sachin Tendulkar and his remorseless charge into the future with the competition for the all time centuries record in view.
* To push forward and be recognised as one of the greatest of all time.
Amongst all of these valid reasons is the need to go out on your own terms.
I don’t sense a farewell victory tour ala Steve Waugh, this Australian side doesn’t have the capacity to send Ricky Ponting off with such a rousing finale.
The ruthlessness of professional sport demands performance and the feeding frenzy in Australia’s press won’t spare Ponting.
One hopes there will be a celebration of all that is great about this batting superstar, that the press will be able to separate off the teams performance from his achievements.
Of course Australia may play outstanding cricket in this coming Ashes series and even if they don’t win, send Ponting off with the accolades he deserves.
Let’s hope so.
Back From Ricky Ponting: Rage Against The Light To Cricket Players
About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.