Ricky Ponting responded to his third failure to win the Ashes by insisting that he remains the best candidate to lead Australia through what threatens to become their greatest cricketing crisis for a generation.Ponting conceded that he might miss the final Test in Sydney because of the broken finger that he braved at the MCG, and also tacitly accepted suggestions that he might move down the order after a horrendous series batting at No3.
But if his Test captaincy, or indeed his career, is to end officially then it will be at the selectors' behest. They have entered prolonged discussions about what part Ponting should play in Australia's future before an anticipated announcement of the squad for the final Test at the SCG tonight.
"I probably haven't got much of a case at the moment," said Ponting ruefully. "But I've got a lot of knowledge on the game. I've played 150 Tests and won 99 Test matches, not as captain but wins that I've been part of. I have captained a lot of winning teams. I feel I am well equipped to bring on some young guys and we have got a few of them in the side now. I know what it takes to win Test matches.
"You probably think that is a bit outrageous but I have total belief in the set-up and structures and players we have in Australia. I want to be around the team, helping these young guys through the tougher times.
"Whatever decision I make, it's really important it's for the betterment of Australian cricket. I want to keep playing, I would love to keep leading the team, I still think I've got a lot to offer."
Ponting admitted that he was mystified by his tortured batting form throughout the Ashes series but, at 36, he refuses to consider that he might be in irreversible decline.
"I got myself in the best physical shape I had been in for eight or 10 years of my career," he said. "The game can almost grab hold of you and make you feel like you are unlucky all the time. That is not the case and I just have to find a way to turn it around. I have to keep improving as a player myself and lead from the front."
Ponting confirmed suggestions that Greg Chappell, Australia's national selector, had discussed the possibility of him batting at No4 before the first Test in Brisbane. "He mentioned something briefly about the possibility," said Ponting, who it can safely be assumed declined. His feelings have now softened.
"I guess there's been a few doubts creep into my mind the last couple of weeks, [I'm] not going to hide that. I think I definitely have to re-evaluate where I'm at as a Test batsman."
He gave qualified support to the notion that Usman Khawaja, an uncapped New South Wales batsman, could make his debut at the SCG at No3.
"If it happens to be someone outside the team coming in to bat in that position, the selectors will have to make sure they're ready for it. Everything I've seen of Usman, I've been very impressed. His first-class record is very, very good. Technically, he looks as good as any of the young blokes we've got around Australia, probably better. You need to have that really solid technique if you want to stand up at No3 at Test level."
The possibility that he might miss the SCG because of injury, looked stronger when he left the MCG for further x-rays on the fourth morning as Australia's tail-enders held up England's innings victory celebrations until 35 minutes before lunch on the fourth day. He planned further consultations with his specialist and with Australia's medical staff later in the day.
"The specialist has to go through the x-rays with me and he needs to look at the finger and see what movement and mobility I've got around the joint," he said. "I was comfortable getting through the Melbourne game, although I had a few more complications in the second innings. It hasn't been any part of the reason why I haven't batted well, that's for sure.
"We feel we have let ourselves down and we feel we have let the cricket public of Australia down. We have to give them something positive as far as Australian cricket is concerned. I know we can do it. I have total confidence in the ability of this group of players to bounce back and turn things around.
"Hopefully I'm not only remembered as the guy that lost three Ashes series. There are lots of other great things I've been lucky to be a part of throughout my career. But this result is not one of my proudest."
