Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar

I don't want Ricky Ponting to retire.

I think I now know what Ricky Ponting needs to do for people to start liking him. He needs to bat like he batted at Motera in the quarter-finals against India. We may all rejoice at an Indian win but now that the victory has sunk in, it feels like India teamed up to beat Ricky Ponting.

And for just a while Ricky Ponting was ahead.


Today Ricky Ponting was Australia. His century was as much a personal statement as an effort to uphold Australia's pride. Without him there would have been no contest. Without him Australia would have been humiliated. He came pretty darn close to beating India. Australians should be proud of Ricky Ponting today.

In much the same way as Indians used to be proud of Sachin Tendulkar after his century fell short of win.

From the outside these individual efforts seem selfish and self centered. They are not. Because sometimes the other 10 guys are just not good enough. That doesn't mean you walk away.

Sachin Tendulkar did not.

For many years Sachin Tendulkar was India. India's pride even when wins were hard to come by. In time, the team got better. It started winning games. Eventually Sachin Tendulkar had the privilege to be playing for a champion team.

In time Sachin Tendulkar became Ricky Ponting.

His contributions secured wins. They were purposeful to the team's cause. Like the innings he played today at at Motera in the quarter-finals against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar is the Ricky Ponting of the old.

Ricky Ponting is the Sachin Tendulkar of the old. Australia needs him. Ricky Ponting is Australia.

From being Sachin Tendulkar to being Ricky Ponting seems like an easier, smoother a more logical transition. From being Ricky Ponting to being Sachin Tendulkar is a more cruel transition. But Ricky Ponting wants it.

Let him have it.