the century.. follwed by the retirement..

A lot of indians including myself would not have even dreamed of writing such an article. may be i write this after such a long time or i realize that batting is an art. an art few posses an art few can make it their own. may be i write this because the team Australia lost to India despite of a century from a great batsmen.

living sorry i would rather say batting in the generation of the Sachin and Lara is not easy. and then to make experts debate on if you are as good as them or even better than them is a distinction that not many can earn and live with. Ponting as a batsmen has achieved that distinction. His arrogance in leading a winning side was popular, his batting was not. His arrogance in claiming catches were popular but his athletic fielding was not. If you ask ten Australian who is the best batsmen followed by the Don, atleast 4 would say Sachin and may be the remaining six would say Ponting. You ask the same to an Indian all 10 would say Sachin. That is how cricket is biased.

The day when he debuted no one called him a child prodigy, no one predicted him to create history. He came and grew as a player, as a batsmen and as a captain. He made a name for himself. He captained a side that was already in its peak. He created history with his leadership and also with his bat. He may never become a Tendulkar or a Lara, but his pull and hook will be unique and remembered. He has been the most successful captain in the history of the game till now. He now quits captaincy.

Captaincy or leadership was not his problem, batting or form was not his problem. The team he had was the problem. There were spinners who could not bowl. Big hitters who could not make it big often, and openers who could not get century. A middle order who struggled to play spin and fast bowlers who could only bowl fast but not with skill. This team was not destined to achieve the greatness that the other achieved. But amongst all this he stood tall took the critic on his chest and batted for the team. He was Ponting he is not Sachin nor Lara but he has his name in the book of history. I salute you and will always want you to be behind my prodigy Sachin but i respect you and will always be your fan.