Dec. 16: England turned the screws on Australia’s embattled leadership on Thursday with Ricky Ponting’s dismal run of form in the Ashes continuing on the opening day of the third Test in Perth. The Australian captain and his deputy Michael Clarke both fell cheaply as England’s pace attack capitalised on a grassy pitch to have the home side floundering at 36-4 before they fought back to 268 all-out.
Ponting, who had said on Wednesday it was time for him to lead the way with the bat, got off the mark fortuitously with an edge through a vacant fourth slip from the bowling of Chris Tremlett for a boundary.
He was brilliantly caught by Paul Collingwood at third slip for 12, having survived just 10 balls. It meant Ponting, who has refused to drop down the order from No.3, has just 82 runs for the series at 20.50.
Ponting himself admitted this week his future as captain was uncertain, with the Tasmanian facing the potential ignominy of becoming the first Australian skipper to lose three Ashes series.
However, veteran Mike Hussey backed his skipper to rebound. “It is a fine line and Ricky was unlucky to be caught out by an amazing catch,” he said. “If people count against such a champion, they generally come back and show the critics to be wrong. I have no doubt it will be the same on this occasion. Ricky is such a champion batsman, champion bloke and champion captain that I am sure he will be fine,” he said.