Chris Cairns Is Elephantine In His Pronouncements
What he said (via Sydney Morning Herald):
“And there’s an elephant in the room at the moment in Ricky Ponting that nobody is really addressing.”
Chris Cairns begins the mind games prior to Australia’s tour of New Zealand.
The Kiwi all-rounder believes that Ricky Ponting’s shelf life has neared its expiry date and called for his retirement.
Cairns said:
I don’t think you can have two years averaging 27 as a No.3. I think it’s his time. And when you look at the likes of Mark Taylor, [Ian] Healy, Mark Waugh – they were told it was their time. And there’s an elephant in the room at the moment in Ricky Ponting that nobody is really addressing.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got the utmost respect for Ricky Ponting but there’s a time and a place. And for me, his time and place is Hobart in the second Test against New Zealand. That’s to say, ‘Thanks very much’.
Australian selectors have been kind to Ricky Ponting in comparison to his predecessors, none of whom were retained.
Cairns said:
And whilst [the Ponting saga] continues on, the media circus will go with it and the guys will just be surrounded by that talk instead of just getting on and playing cricket.
Absolutely [Cricket Australia are avoiding the tough decisions]. They’ve allowed Ricky to keep going because of his stature in the game and who he is. But why should he have to make the call? At the end of the day, for me, Australia has always been about the team and what’s best. He is behind Bradman, Australia’s greatest batsman, so they’re managing it. But I just think it’s an elephant in the room. I really do. Australia has got rebuilding to do.
What he really meant:
“Australia have one captain too many in the dressing room—a non-performing one to boot. They all know what needs to be done. The question is ‘who’s going to bell the cat?’”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Ricky Ponting has to be nursed along much like Sachin Tendulkar. Treat him with kid gloves.”
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