CRICKET Australia boss James Sutherland insists Ricky Ponting’s captaincy is not in jeopardy.
A panel that includes three former skippers will preside over a forensic review of Australian cricket. Former captains Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor, businessman Don Argus and former ICC boss Malcolm Speed will conduct the review.
Meanwhile, Ponting is under mounting pressure from another former captain, Ian Chappell, and former stars Doug Walters and Geoff Lawson, who have called on him to stand aside in favour of Michael Clarke.
The panel will interview key figures, including Ponting, 36, who recently said he planned to play on after the World Cup.
It is unlikely the former captains would recommend Ponting be sacked, but Sutherland moved to ease anxieties by giving him unqualified support.
We’re very comfortable with the performance of the team under Ricky,” he said.
“These sort of things are very much in the hands of selectors. (But) the first thing for any Australian player is performance and Ricky’s contribution as a leader … he’s doing a fantastic job with the one-day side at the World Cup.”
Clarke, Ponting’s deputy for three years, turns 30 the day of the World Cup final and most pundits believe he is the perfect age to inherit the top job.
But Ponting is not ready to quit and said he would take no offence if the review suggested ways he could improve as captain.
“That’s what I’m all about — I’m all about learning, every day,” he said.
“I learn about my game every day when I go to training, I learn about captaincy in every game I play in. All the new, younger guys who come in, there’s something different about (each of) them and, as a captain, I’ve got to learn about how to handle different personalities.
“If there’s something that comes out of the review that’s going to make me a better player or captain, great. I think that’s the attitude and approach we all should have.
“The reason we’re doing it is to find little ways to get better. If that’s in the way they run their business or the structures around the team, then so be it. I’m always open to it.”
On the eve of last summer’s Ashes, Ponting said he wanted to finish his career as captain and No.3 batsman but was prepared to step aside if there was a better candidate for either job.
“It’s certainly not in my contract that I’m going to be captain until I’m finished,” he said.
“If there’s someone better to bat at No.3, I’ll happily move down the order. At the moment, I honestly feel I’m best equipped to do both of those jobs.” (Herald Sun)