Hussey backs beleaguered Ponting

Updated on: 23 March,2011 07:17 AM IST |
Harit N Joshi | sports@mid-day.com

Australia's batting mainstay Michael Hussey has come to the support of his beleaguered skipper Ricky Ponting who, according to reports, could be captaining the Kangaroos for the last time tomorrow

Australia's batting mainstay Michael Hussey has come to the support of his beleaguered skipperu00a0Ricky Ponting who, according to reports, could be captaining the Kangaroos for the last time tomorrow (in the World Cup quarter-final against India).

"He (Ponting) has been fine here. No worries at all. He is the best man for the job (to captain Australia)," Hussey said yesterday.

Reports in the Australian media suggest that the quarter-final against India could be Ponting's last as captain, if they lose.

According to 'The Herald', a senior Cricket Australia (CA) official said there was stiff opposition to the 36-year-old retaining the job for next month's tour of Bangladesh.u00a0

The Australian skipper wasn't at his usual best during the team's practice session at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera yesterday. He stood in one corner monitoring the session, talking to his teammates, besides doing some catching practice. He seemed immersed in thoughts during the nets. He left the training ground midway even as his teammates were still at work.

Ponting has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the World Cup. He was reprimanded for damaging a TV screen in Australia's first game here. Recently, he was criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with rookie Steve Smith. Thereafter, his sportsmanship was questioned after failing to walk in Australia's last group game against Pakistan which they lost.

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