Ponting declaration. Brave or arrogant? [merged]

[saeed-sohail]

Ponting declaring half way through the second day was a very surprising decision. I mean on this flat wicket this could backfire big time if pakistan bat well and get some sort of lead.
To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.

[kingusama92]

No it was a great declaration. A real gutsy one but looking at the Pakistani lineup from an Aussie perspective.. 450 should be enough.

I don't think he was showing lack of respect. The main thing is the Aussies want to win and this is the best way to get a result on this pitch.

[saeed-sohail]

No it was a great declaration. A real gutsy one but looking at the Pakistani lineup from an Aussie perspective.. 450 should be enough.

I don't think he was showing lack of respect. The main thing is the Aussies want to win and this is the best way to get a result on this pitch.
I love your positive attitude towards everything.

[Random Aussie]

Our bowlers might need a lot of time on this pitch to get 20 wickets. Good declaration and I don't think it is disrespectful to the opposition.

[ShehryarK]

I think it shows a lot of confidence in his own team. He is backing his batsmen to score good runs the second time around too, so that's positive. He's also backing his bowlers to ensure Pak gets out for less 400 and doesn't pile up 650+.

However, a less positive interpretation is that in addition to showing confidence in his own team, he also knows that Pak batting is so pathetic, no way will we ever get 650 or even 450. He knows that bowling was allegedly our only strong suit - his guys negated that by scoring 450, now's the easy part.

[cric]

it's right decison. ponting knows there is no way pakistan gonna go for win.

[Amir]

I say its unnecessary and is hurting TV companies. I agree with his thought process. Give his bowlers maximum time on this wicket but lets be honest Ricky, its Pakistan. The top 3 alone probably can't make what one of your openers makes alone. You can probably wrap them up within 2 days if you honestly tried.

Now the game will be wrapped up by day four. Selfish Selfish Ricky, he should have just kept batting and then declare after day 3.

[jusarrived]

the best way to win on a flat pitch is to pile up 600+ runs in 5 sessions and put pressure on the opposition , which ozs have been doing for years ...Ponting thinks he can finish off this match early , hope it backfires big time

[Amir]

the best way to win on a flat pitch is to pile up 600+ runs in 5 sessions and put pressure on the opposition , which ozs have been doing for years ...Ponting thinks he can finish off this match early , hope it backfires big time

It won't and the commentators are having orgasmic reactions just speaking about it.

[Romali_rotti]

No way in hell Ponting would have declared for anything under 550 or go for max & out if the opposition was India...

[Saqs]

How is it disrespectful or arrogant?

Good declaration.

The pitch is a "featherbed" as Bill Lawry said - not doing much - so Ponting has given his bowlers ample time to get 20 wickets.

[moumotta]

Last few series in Australia, he has won the first match and struggled in the remaining ones as the opposition strats getting the hang of playing conditions. It happened with India and more recently with WI. Ponting is trying to capitalise on that trend hoping to runover an under prepared Pak before they can regroup.

[Extreme Pace]

"Arrogant" ? More like realistic, why bother piling up the runs when you know the other team's batting line up is **** ? Ponting would have never done this against India, South Africa, England.

[sali]

Niether brave nor errogant. Its called calculated risk. He didn't expect that Pak players will roll over on this pitch. He wanted to give bowlers more time and make Pak bat on last day.

I am sure he calculated that it will take a lot of work to get Pak out and he will bat a little (rather ask follow on) while his bowlers are resting and they will make Pak play last on the final day. Just what they did against WI in the final test.

[Gollum]

Ponting declaration. Brave or arrogant? Reply to Thread

Neither brave or arrogant but safe very safe against this Pakistani batting line up. Ponting has us all figured out.

[jusarrived]

How is it disrespectful or arrogant?

Good declaration.

The pitch is a "featherbed" as Bill Lawry said - not doing much - so Ponting has given his bowlers ample time to get 20 wickets.



3 days 2 sessions left , they have enuf time to bowl pak out 4 times .stop kidding your self

[Gollum]

3 days 2 sessions left , they have enuf time to bowl pak out 4 times .stop kidding your self

I'm afraid that's true :pissed:

[McBoom]

The explanation is simple, he doesn't want his bowlers to bowl for two consecutive innings hence he is not too keen on enforcing the follow on.

Aus will bat in the 3rd innings therefore giving their bowlers some needed rest in between two Pak innings.

[saadjhussain]

what's so arrogant about it? it was a perfect declaration. he knew if australia scored over 400, pak would try to play for a draw. with a defensive mindset, they'll face many deliveries but won't score many runs and with the limited ability of our players, they'll lose their wickets cheaply. very good decision by him.

[AZ]

the best way to win on a flat pitch is to pile up 600+ runs in 5 sessions and put pressure on the opposition , which ozs have been doing for years ...Ponting thinks he can finish off this match early , hope it backfires big time

agreed....IMO, it's definitely arrogance...let's hope the Pakistani team can provide a fitting response

[saqlain]

Ponting declaring half way through the second day was a very surprising decision. I mean on this flat wicket this could backfire big time if pakistan bat well and get some sort of lead.
To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.

I think you must give credit to Ponting for this declaration. It was a brave gamble which did pay off for Australia. I am sure everyone would have different opinion or assessment about this, but in my opinion Ponting figured in his mind that there wasnt anything in this track for the bowlers so therefore scoring 600 runs might not result in anything. I think Ponting wants a result from this game and that means they want to get all 20 Pakistani wickets. I think he must have realizes now that it is actually possible to get them in the next 1 or 2 days.

[iafzal]

Ponting wants to win the series 3-0. If he has any chance to do that he has to be aggressive and take some chances. Here he shows his aggressive side and he also knows our batting is full of passengers so he is playing the odds.

After looking at the current position I think he has made the right call.

[saqlain]

Ponting wants to win the series 3-0. If he has any chance to do that he has to be aggressive and take some chances. Here he shows his aggressive side and he also knows our batting is full of passengers so he is playing the odds.

After looking at the current position I think he has made the right call.

I think every captain should be greedy and hungry for win and Ponting is one hell of a captain. This must goes to Ponting's credit that he made this game more interesting by that declaration. I am not sure if a captain from South Asian team would ever make such a bold call.

[90MPH]

I say it was a very very good decision. It was one that probably surpised the likes of MOYO on the back foot who probably thought Australia would not declare until they get 550 +. T

[IM NOT YOU]

you play to win the game.

thats what separates ponting from moyo and younus khan's play to not get out mentality.

ponting would never bat for 5 overs striaght in a crucial ODI in champions trophy against india and come out with 0 runs in 5 consecutive overs on a flat track 350 pitch

[PapaBear]

Well, if he was arrogant, then it was upto us to take the attack back to him and score 500 in quick time, but we are not that good, and he knows it. Ponting also doesn't kill his bowlers unnecessarily, like Moyo who is zalim and made Ajmal bowl 45 overs, Amir bowled 27 overs, that is way too much , with today's hectic schedules great captains would use every card in their book to rest their bowlers when they can.

[AZ]

then why did he play a just recovered from injury Peter Siddle?

[naqlipathan]

does it matter if it was brave or arrogant? it was the right declaration because pakistan does not have the calibre to score past 350

[IM NOT YOU]

siddle > pakistani batsman

[iafzal]

it does not seem we will be able to score above 400 in this series the way our batters are batting. Right now I will be happey with 300

[kkmix]

it does not seem we will be able to score above 400 in this series the way our batters are batting. Right now I will be happey with 300

I will be happy if we can survive the follow-on.

[sali]

Ponting had nothing to loose by making this decision. He was already in safe position and had no way to loose the game. By declearing, he has taken out the draw from the equation. Now he has upper hand and he will dominate the Pakistani team rest of the series.

[Golden arm]

either way its bold and wise decision!

[Random Aussie]

then why did he play a just recovered from injury Peter Siddle?

Ponting does not pick the side. If Siddle is declared fit he will play.

[Saqs]

To be honest - Pontings captaincy all day was above his usual standard.

Much more switched on, and much more agressive.

Made for some compelling viewing - (which was a counterbalance to the dull batting display)
Reminded me of the Waugh/Taylor days

[Muhammad]

To be honest - Pontings captaincy all day was above his usual standard.

Much more switched on, and much more agressive.



Probably made to look even better when compared to his Pakistani counterpart!

[hasanb]

Brave or arrogant doesnt matter, it was absolutely the correct decision. Given the fact that we have a pathetic team, pathetic coach, pathetic management, pathetic batsmen, pathetic fielding...why would you prolong your innings when you can just finish off this shambles of a nepotic team much earlier?

Ponting knows us for what we are apparently and it was the right move.

[immubhai]

Had Mohammad Yousuf in shoes of Ponting, he never would have declared. Never...even all the former Pakistani captains would have declared like Ponting did. But again Ponting know this week Pakistani batting line up. So no surprises. Even 250 is too much for pakistan

[AZ]

Had Mohammad Yousuf in shoes of Ponting, he never would have declared. Never...even all the former Pakistani captains would have declared like Ponting did. But again Ponting know this week Pakistani batting line up. So no surprises. Even 250 is too much for pakistan

forget Pakistanis, NO captain would have declared...that's why it was all the more surprising...let's hope it comes back to haunt him in the end ;-)

[Saj]

Brilliant stuff from Ponting.

Its probably the last thing that our team expected and must have caught our boys off guard.

A positive move from the Aussies.

[cricketpassion]

I think Pakistani batting line is **** .Any captain would have confidance in their bowling line up against Pakistan .Any captain would know even target of 100 runs in 4th inning for Pakistan will be problem .so good declaration .

[Howzat]

Neither brave nor arrogant. Lets call it wise.

[Wiji]

It was an amazing declaration no doubt. Pakistani mentality is to declare only if you reach 700 runs. Ponting is not looking for a draw. He's looking to win. The only way to win when batting first is to take 20 wickets. He's given his bowlers exactly that opportunity.

We are going to get a result on this flat wicket well within 5 days. And that's all due to Ponting's declaration. Brilliant stuff!

And people who are calling it arrogant have no idea what you're talking about. Why on Earth would any opposition team treat a batting line up with Butt, Farhat, Iqbal, Misbah with any respect anyway?

The only way his decision will backfire now is if the Akmal brothers come up with a miraculous display of an entire day's worth of power hitting tomorrow. When you take decisions like these, you don't take into account such rare miracles because the likelihood is very small.

[haroonrasheed320]

He knows very well of what score is enough for Pakistan 400+ score is more then enough for a batting line up that Pakistan has.

:( :( :( All this time in the past we used to say our batting line up is good on paper and they need to apply it on the field, but if you look at the current batting line up I believe its the worst ever there is nothing in them to apply.

[BoomBoomCricket]

Brave

[singh]

ponting is thinking abt scoring 100 as no aussie hv past triple figure this summer so far.
if he had nt declared then with these overrated bowling attack aussie might hv crossed 700 easily. mark my word he wont force follow on 2moro n will bat again. nway it wont affect the overall result of this test match.. lol

[Sultan Yusuf]

It might be arrogant, it might not but it's what the game needs......who wants to see another 700+ innings borefest?......

Advice to our players - if you don't want to be treated like minnows don't play like them

[ShehryarK]

Advice to our players - if you don't want to be treated like minnows don't play like themWell said! :14:

[Legal Eye]

Brave - and the right thing to do. When Waugh said Bangladesh's batting was better than ours, he was not wrong.

[Romali_rotti]

Brave - and the right thing to do. When Waugh said Bangladesh's batting was better than ours, he was not wrong.


When did he say that ? and which Waugh was it ?

[naveed603]

Our bowlers might need a lot of time on this pitch to get 20 wickets. Good declaration and I don't think it is disrespectful to the opposition.
ponting wants to win this test in 4 days..and he will......

[Wassixpakistani]

Ponting knows well of our recent Collapsing Saga . Heck , he gave us some respect declaring at 450 otherwise 250 looked to be enough . A great declaration , I would say .

[srh]

Brave or arrogant doesnt matter, it was absolutely the correct decision. Given the fact that we have a pathetic team, pathetic coach, pathetic management, pathetic batsmen, pathetic fielding...why would you prolong your innings when you can just finish off this shambles of a nepotic team much earlier?

Ponting knows us for what we are apparently and it was the right move.
Ouch. But true.

[hasanb]

Our bowlers might need a lot of time on this pitch to get 20 wickets. Good declaration and I don't think it is disrespectful to the opposition.

Youre kidding me right? You do know youre playing against Pakistan? A couple of sessions and your boys should be able to enjoy a night out in Melbourne.

[OZGOD]

Ponting declaring half way through the second day was a very surprising decision. I mean on this flat wicket this could backfire big time if pakistan bat well and get some sort of lead.
To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.


You have reached an inaccurate conclusion saeed sohail. Ponting has learned from his previous mistakes in batting too long particularly on good wickets. We need more time than we used to to get the other teams out. Just because we didn't score 600 before declaring doesn't imply a lack of respect. He wants to win the game not draw it.

Besides, hindsight shows that it wasn't a bad decision. 4 Pak wickets in the sheds at stumps on day 2, we'll take that.

[OZGOD]

agreed....IMO, it's definitely arrogance...let's hope the Pakistani team can provide a fitting response


Can't believe that some of you are moaning about the declaration. Would you have preferred it came at 9/800? The declaration shows that he wants to win the match and our young and inexperienced bowling attack need more overs to win, given what happened in Cardiff and against WI in Adelaide. In fact its an admission that these days we can't bowl out a side in a day.

He's being positive and is giving us the best chance to win the match. It's also given your team a chance to win, if you're good enough to seize the opportunity.

Apologies for typos and grammar I am on a Blackberry...

[tradecars]

To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.

we are a broken team ( batting ) i canot remeber the last time pakistan dictated the batting against any team.
the only way is for someone to stand up and make a 100 get to atleast 375 and hopefully bowl aussies out quickly second time round and chase around 370 tops we would be in for a chance to win. we have got to start thinking positive

[Da Best]

A genius move from the Aussie skipper. Pakistan weren't expecting it now look at them, a collapse. But it shows a bit disrespect to the opposition with this declaration, but to an extent.

[WNC]

It's a good move by Ponting, mostly because our batting isn't that strong and he knows that. Goes to show he has the guts to make such a move unlike our captain and management, who might have already given up because of the 450 put on the board.

[12thMan]

Ponting probably saved some of Pakistani bowlers. It would have been another match where Pakistan ends up bowling 150+ overs. When Australia bowls, their 150 overs will be in two innings but he wouldn't want to bowl them without a break

[waqar_ahmad]

It was an excellent declaration, that shows that they actually wanted to win. Had we managed to bat well, we would never have declared for under 600, for which, we would have needed to bat 3 days.

[hasanb]

we would never have declared for under 600, for which, we would have needed to bat 3 days.

Our average RR in tests is around 1.1 isnt it? So we would have to bat all 5 days to reach 600.

Pakistan Zindabad

[waqar_ahmad]

Our average RR in tests is around 1.1 isnt it? So we would have to bat all 5 days to reach 600.

Pakistan Zindabad
Correct.

Did you watch the match hasan? It was such pathetic batting. All we were doing, was blocking. Butt jee was blocking overpitched lolly pops from hauritz.

Dont expect any positive attitude from our captain and management

[hasanb]

Correct.

Did you watch the match hasan? It was such pathetic batting. All we were doing, was blocking. Butt jee was blocking overpitched lolly pops from hauritz.

Dont expect any positive attitude from our captain and management

Yes Waqar, as I said in my other post there are so many fundamental issues that are wrong with this setup that I wouldnt een have a clue where to start. The board, the coach, the team selection, the freeloaders, the poor fielding, the pathetic batting, the captain, the lack of any coherent strategy.....We are talking A-Z of nepotism, sifarish and basic patheticness.

This cricket team is a micro-cosm of the entire country...fundamentally flawed and only surviving due to individual talents.

I dont even know where to start Waqar...I really dont...

[Shehryar]

Yes Waqar, as I said in my other post there are so many fundamental issues that are wrong with this setup that I wouldnt een have a clue where to start. The board, the coach, the team selection, the freeloaders, the poor fielding, the pathetic batting, the captain, the lack of any coherent strategy.....We are talking A-Z of nepotism, sifarish and basic patheticness.

This cricket team is a micro-cosm of the entire country...fundamentally flawed and only surviving due to individual talents.

I dont even know where to start Waqar...I really dont...

Never a truer word spoken. :14:

[Rana]

we psychologically are losing this game, it makes no sense to tremble on this wicket. I thought tha ponting made a wrong decision at first because it seemed impossible to get wickets on this track simply because the pakistani bowlers were not makingany mistakes when bowling on the regular. Its us who need to take command and put away all those short deliveries, this wicket was made for toil, my prediction from here onwards is that pakistan will still draw this match and if the play positive, who knows!

[saeed-sohail]

In hindsight it looks a fantastic decision now that we have lost 4 wickets in 3 hours play but my point still stands that for our beghairat batsmen it should have been a wake up call but no they way they batted they proved they have no shame.
As for the argument that he needed time it was only half way through 2nd day and the batting line up we have they could bowl us out twice in 5 sessions let alone 11.Sadly we are treated like a minnow here and we deserve it.

[IMMY69]

it was neither a brave or arrogant declaration!

Brave? How can it be brave knowing our batting line-up? Declaring at 180-200 would have been brave, not 450 odd!

Arrogant? The Aussies want to win this match and the best way to do it on this flat deck is to give themselves enough time to bowl us out..Knowing our batting line-up how can it be termed arrogant? It would only be Arrogant if they underestimated our batting but what are the chanced of that?

The Aussies are advanced in technology and in analysing the opposition, a couple of DVD's of our batting in the last 6 months is surely enough to come to the conclusion that our batting is probably one of the weakest line-ups in world cricket!

[Pak_NM]

It's a good declaration taking into account our batting being so crap. If it was India, SA or even England as the opposition I doubt Pointing would have declared

[USaqaf]

So now we're criticizing how and when an opposition captain declares?

How can we blame the players for being too sensitive when the fans are just as bad!

[saeed-sohail]

Who is criticizing Ponting here? This thread is more to do with our pathetic batting and how opposition captains are humiliating us and this is well within their rights.

[Wiji]

When was the last time Pakistan declared and won a Test match?

[Wiji]

When was the last time Pakistan declared and won a Test match?
Found out.
http://www.cricinfo.com/stats/engine/match/257767.html
1st December, 2006.

But that wasn't a first innings declaration.

[USaqaf]

Who is criticizing Ponting here? This thread is more to do with our pathetic batting and how opposition captains are humiliating us and this is well within their rights.

The thread title is 'Ponting brave or arrogant'.
You think calling Ponting arrogant isnt a criticism?

[ms_dhoni840]

On a FLAT track . . How many captains do you think would dare to declare at a score of 440 for 5 ?!

REASON IS CLEAR.Pakistan is awful in test format.They lack quality and patience needed in test cricket.i think pakistan should stop taking part in ipl and should concentrate on real cricket.Ipl is good for teams which are better in all forms of cricket.pakistan is definetely the poorest side out of top 8 test playing nation.i rate them behing west indies now.

[saeed-sohail]

Arrogance in sport can be a good thing mate. He was arrogance in thinking pakistan batting is rubbish. I don't buy into this thing that he declared cos it was hard to take 20 wickets. He declared knowing 450 is enough for our batting and our besharams are proving him right.

[shane]

Ponting's declaration could end up being a very foolish one, however, since Pakistan will probably collapse to 200 all out, I think he will be made to look like some sort of genius.

[insaaniyat]

Ponting's declaration could end up being a very foolish one, however, since Pakistan will probably collapse to 200 all out, I think he will be made to look like some sort of genius.
Well he knew we are a bad batting side and also we choke. So hedid the right thing to make sure they have enough time to win the match. Was he being arrogant? Yes

[saeed-sohail]

Ponting's declaration could end up being a very foolish one, however, since Pakistan will probably collapse to 200 all out, I think he will be made to look like some sort of genius.
That's where word brave comes into it.

[shane]

Well he knew we are a bad batting side and also we choke. So hedid the right thing to make sure they have enough time to win the match. Was he being arrogant? Yes

There is no point having lots of time if you dont have enough runs. The issue here is whether 450 was enough on a good batting pitch. The answer is "probably not" and so you are quite right to say he was arrogant. But as you point out he was well aware that Pakistan could be relied upon to vindicate his declaration.

[umerz]

more than brave or arrogant i wud say its Ponting's confidence in our batting

[ahmed16]

Ponting declaring half way through the second day was a very surprising decision. I mean on this flat wicket this could backfire big time if pakistan bat well and get some sort of lead.
To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.

Why does everyone on Pakpassion believe that all teams have a lack of rexpect for our current line up, I highly doubt that Ponting is showing disrespect towards the Pak batsman, if anything he considers our team to be something more than WI and is giving his bowlers more time to bowl us out, he knows that his current bowlers cant run through sides as easily as Warne and McGrath did.

Is it me or did people get the distinct impression that the Aussie commentators where in awe of the talent in our team, Mark Nicholas, an englishman even described Iqbal as "talented", now thats saying something given Faisal "test average 27" Iqbal is anything but talented.

On that basis, Ponting was expecting alot more from our batsman, shame, im sure that in the next test hell declare at 600 after realising how **** and overhyped our team is.

[Geordie Ahmed]

It was a good declaration by Ponting - If it was against SA/England then it can be called brave BUT this is Pak, he knows we are not getting close to that score so he wants to have plenty time to be able to take 20 wickets

[saeed-sohail]

So suddenly aus thought we had the best batting line up.

[shane]

So suddenly aus thought we had the best batting line up.

This is true. There is a bit of a contradiction in what some people are saying. On the one hand they are suggesting that Ponting does not think Pakistan can get anywhere near 450 and on the other they are saying that he thinks he needs three and a half days to bowl them out twice.

[Muhammad]

Is it me or did people get the distinct impression that the Aussie commentators where in awe of the talent in our team, Mark Nicholas, an englishman even described Iqbal as "talented", now thats saying something given Faisal "test average 27" Iqbal is anything but talented.

On that basis, Ponting was expecting alot more from our batsman, shame, im sure that in the next test hell declare at 600 after realising how **** and overhyped our team is.

Sorry ahmed, I think it's just you. Basically they're loving our current struggles, a guy like Nicholas never really had a soft spot for our team, wanted to see us do badly in the past, but he still had a begrudging respect for the outstanding individuals in our team.

At present he's just doing his job as a Channel 9 commie, bigging up useless players to keep the local public interested, hope they don't switch away on watching a lop sided contest. I bet he's loving it, no doubt grinning like a cheshire cat when calling Faisal "talented". Basically taking the p.

[saeed-sohail]

Muhammad younger posters don't know the history of nicholas with pakistan of 80s and 90s esp a certain khan.

[Uncle Sam]

Ponting declaring half way through the second day was a very surprising decision. I mean on this flat wicket this could backfire big time if pakistan bat well and get some sort of lead.
To me decision was sign of lack of respect towards pakistan team and if we had bit of sharam we would play out of our skin and make him pay for his arrogance.

Neither brave nor arrogant but a pretty well calculated one.
He knew we are gonna pee in our pants chasing 254 to avoid follow on and we simply are not in a mood to let him down.

[the SHA]

Great psychological move from Ponting. Sending an aggressive message to his timid opponents on Day 2 of a 15 day series that we believe in ourselves enough to win with one hand, and (more crucially), we believe that you believe this too!

The brave move did allow Pakistan a rare opportunity though to seize the initiative from Australia by batting assertively and attacking the total on a pancake pitch. This approach would have shifted pressure on Australia and Ponting himself at little cost. Sadly for Pakistan though, Ponting was wiser to predict how Mohammad Yousuf's men would react. Block block survive survive block block. There is no way Ponting would've declared so early had Younis Khan been captaining, thats for sure.

[Oxy]

Its brave, its brilliant & its arrogant!

Ponting & co would have seen videos of Pak in NZ last month.

And any line up with a 1,2,3 of Butt, Farhat & Iqbal is going to give you confidence....did you see our openers faces when Ponting declared?

Totally unprepared!

Anyone who thinks its disrespectful needs to look at our batting, our fielding & our lack of leadership & tactics - and decide who is being disrespectful to Pak cricket

Hint: Its not Ponting

[Fish]

Great psychological move from Ponting. Sending an aggressive message to his timid opponents on Day 2 of a 15 day series that we believe in ourselves enough to win with one hand, and (more crucially), we believe that you believe this too!

The brave move did allow Pakistan a rare opportunity though to seize the initiative from Australia by batting assertively and attacking the total on a pancake pitch. This approach would have shifted pressure on Australia and Ponting himself at little cost. Sadly for Pakistan though, Ponting was wiser to predict how Mohammad Yousuf's men would react. Block block survive survive block block. There is no way Ponting would've declared so early had Younis Khan been captaining, thats for sure.

Ponting has used the remarks from Butt about Hauritz to advantage, firstly he knows that Hauritzs 75 was a blow to Pakistan but the real masterstroke was to get him bowling as soon as possible to Butt. With a declaration and only eight overs into Pakistans innings Hauritz was bowling. This had a big impact on the Pakistan thinking, if they went on the attack and Hauritz picks up a couple of wickets then Butts comments will make him look silly. Pakistan didnt know what to do against Hauritz and in the end Australa just picked them off.

[the SHA]

Anyone who thinks its disrespectful needs to look at our batting, our fielding & our lack of leadership & tactics - and decide who is being disrespectful to Pak cricket

:14:

Disrespect can only exist if there is any self-respect to infringe on!

[Chuffed]

:14:

Disrespect can only exist if there is any self-respect to infringe on!

That is harsh. There are many on this team that are victims of poor leadership and management, yet themselves are self-respecting grafters and are simply obeying at PCB's behest. Can't tar them all with the same.......

[Savak]

I think its a really simple message to the Pakistani team. "You want our respect and fear, then EARN IT"

[ahmed16]

So suddenly aus thought we had the best batting line up.

No, Ponting knows that his bowling line up is not what it used to be and our batting is supposed to be better than WI as far as rankings in concerned.
No one was saying that we have the best batting line up, but Ponting was expecting more from us than WI, how else do you explain it? Declaring on 450 when it is a flat pitch, theres a chance we can actually get 450 with some graft. He declared at 450 to give his bowlers more time to bowl out what he thought would be a stronger batting line up.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvpak09/content/current/story/441346.html read it, quoes from the man himself.

[saeed-sohail]

Say whatever you want mate but it was arrogance nothing else he knew this line up struggled against the might of martin and obrian last month. If he was thinking his bowlers needed time to bowl us out then he must have considered that in THAT time our batters would have scored some runs aswell.
In that case why did they bat so slowly in the morning session considering the situation and batting to come. This is humiliation but I bet inti and yousaf did not think about it like that.

[chacha kashmiri]

I dont think it was the score that was the arrogant bit, it was the declaring as soon as hauritz got out.

[James]

When I first read of the declaration I was very surprised, an actual inventive piece of captaincy from Ponting (!) who is known better for quite the opposite. The thinking behind it was to get the Pakistani batsmen in when they probably had made no mental preparation and thought they would be out in the field for a lot longer, and he also wanted to save time in the game, were his side to find themselves in a winning position later. Absolutely inspired move given the results.

[Howzat]

It's not arrogance, but he really is not even a bit threatened by your batsmen. That's for sure. If he was, he would have taken care to bat you out of the game before declaring. But he just wants to finish this off brutally trying to smash the Pakistani team's morale right in the first game. His objective is to insult and crush whatever confidence your team might have. And yes, it's not any emotion like arrogance. It's a cold calculated move.

When Ponting said "Pakistan is a dangerous side", I had said not to take his statement at face value and that he did not mean what he said. For that, I had to face hostility on this forum. But now his declaration shows how much he is scared.

[MIG]

I really dont understand the OP.

Ponting wants to win this match - why does that make him arrogant? Its almost as if its a flaw in his character or something!

[moumotta]

I really dont understand the OP.

Ponting wants to win this match - why does that make him arrogant? Its almost as if its a flaw in his character or something!

Put it this way. He wouldn't have declared in that situation against India or South Africa or even New Zealand.

[MIG]

Why is that arrogant? He took a tactical decision based upon his understanding of Pakistani capabilities.

Just like he may well declare with a 350 run lead tomorrw before lunch ! Doesnt make him a bad person!

I dont think arrogant is the word - astute maybe - arrogant - NOT.

[Easa]

Nothing wrong with arrogance on the cricket field.

Its just that if your team doesn't back it up, you can be left looking a little silly. Hope we startle the Aussies tomorrow, I don't want Punter getting too happy.

[OZGOD]

I really dont understand the OP.

Ponting wants to win this match - why does that make him arrogant? Its almost as if its a flaw in his character or something!
Maybe the OP wanted us to declare at 7/777, giving Pakistan no chance to win the game.

[ascher]

I am positive that he would bring the same sense of "meaning business" even in that job and we would be able to see some result oriented pitches for a change!

That said, I would love to see the investigation he goes through if (touch wood) pakistan some how manges to win this match! :yk

[OZGOD]

Damn right. It's the first time I've ever seen Ricky do something daring, by risking a loss to try and win. His declaration(s) have given both teams an opportunity to win the match. Comes down to who plays better on the last day.

[flawed_genius]

Damn right. It's the first time I've ever seen Ricky do something daring, by risking a loss to try and win. His declaration(s) have given both teams an opportunity to win the match. Comes down to who plays better on the last day.

Agreed.

[Big Mac]

To be fair it was about time Ponting grew a pair and didn't take the defensive option. It was more an insult to our batsmen than it was a daring declaration

[sohaib17]

^^^

completely blown away from Ricky's captaincy.... in the past i got the sense that he was a very mean and conservative in declaration .. usually he would kill the opposition and than declare which is good captaincy but not good for test cricket... but in this match he has been outstanding with the captaincy and declaration

he might have earned my respect .. as i did nt think of him very highly but hats off for turning a dull game into one hell of a match

[saadjhussain]

not really, it's just that our batsmen have exceeded expectations so far.

[Sufi Malang]

I think Ricky knows a thing or two about Pakistani batting and thats why he declared early in both innings. Throughout this year, we have struggled to chase scores of even 180-250 so a target of 420 runs is more than enough to test this batting on a day 5 pitch.

Having said that, Pakistan are doing well in the 2nd innings particularly the approach with which they are playing. Its a very difficult task to chase this one but if Yousuf and Umar stays on wicket for the first session, the game will be very very interesting and thrilling from there on!

[Extreme Pace]

Yes great declarations by him, whatever the reason may be he has made this match really really interesting.

[Tapori]

We rip him for his sledging but whatever the reason for his declarations they have setup this match beautifully.

[*sallu*]

If we do win this match, our RR will be over 3.3 which is hardly ever been done in a 4th innings run chase.

So can't blame Ricky for the declaration. As Shane Warne said if the opposition manages to score that many runs/ play that many over you probably deserve to lose

[Blitz]

Courage? Daring? Stupid?

That last declaration is hardly any of those things. Seems pretty unexciting to me. Hey, we have a total that is a world record. You think its enough?

[OZGOD]

Yes great declarations by him, whatever the reason may be he has made this match really really interesting.

Well Dubya's not doing it as a favour to Pakistan. He wants to win the match and is prepared to lose it to do so.

[*sallu*]

Well Dubya's not doing it as a favour to Pakistan. He wants to win the match and is prepared to lose it to do so.

As I said, I don't think Ponting actually thought that it was anywhere close to being a risk of losing the match

How many teams have ever scored at a run rate of over 3.5 run per over in the last innings of a test?

Ponting gave Pakistan about 130 overs to chase the target. I never thought we would go for it, but we have, and its brought good results so far.

[Oxy]

Its brave, its brilliant & its arrogant!

Ponting & co would have seen videos of Pak in NZ last month.

And any line up with a 1,2,3 of Butt, Farhat & Iqbal is going to give you confidence....did you see our openers faces when Ponting declared?

Totally unprepared!

Anyone who thinks its disrespectful needs to look at our batting, our fielding & our lack of leadership & tactics - and decide who is being disrespectful to Pak cricket

Hint: Its not Ponting

He could have declared 30 overs earlier - set us 300 to win...and we'd be collapsing big time! PP would be in 'Ponting meltdown'