It's In TeH GaMe !!!

That's the question that many of my friends ask me over Ricky Ponting's future with Australia. This is one of the worst period he's ever going through. As often the case is, whenever a team is going through bad times, the captain is the first one to be slammed.

The Australian selectors have decided to rest Ponting for the second one day international (and perhaps he might be rested for the whole series) against the Kiwis after the tired captain lead his team to four continuous ODI defeats. This also means that Michael Clarke, who was rested for the first game against the Kiwis due to an injured thumb, would lead the side in the upcoming game(s) against New Zealand.

In my opinion, this is a significant move by the selectors as it would groom Michael Clarke a lot as a captain, and obviously this might reduce some burden from Ponting's shoulder.

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Looking at the modern day test cricket, most of us will believe a target of 350-450 is not enough. And well we have already witnessed it happening not only once, but twice. First it was India who sprang a surprise and successfully chased the target of 387 runs against England in Chennai, then it was South Africa, who again showed that Australia are not much far away from being dethroned.

Many of us won't have given South Africa a chance, ever since they were rattled for 281 runs in their first innings. Even when Ricky Ponting and his men would have entered the ground to bowl to South Africa in their last innings, where they needed 414 runs to win, they must have thought that they were atleast going to draw this match. Not only that but, they started looking dangerous, when Mitchel Johnson dismissed McKenzie to leave South Africa 19-1. But captain Graeme Smith was in some other mood. He smashed a brilliant knock of 108 of just 147 balls. Along with Hashim Amla he took the score from 19-1 to 172. That was an awesome 153 runs partnership. Finally Johnson struck again. Smith was caught plumb to leave South Africa at 172 for 2. As often the case is, when one partner is out after a long partnership, the other one follows him to the pavillion. Soon Amla was caught behind by Haddin for a good knock of 53 and South Africa were left reeling at 179-3.

The two men at the crease were Kallis and Ab de Villiers. Once both of them settled down, they started scoring runs at a regular rate. By the time Kallis was dismissed, it looked to be all over for Australia. Kallis was dismissed after hitting a timely half century. South Africa needed 111 runs at that stage.

Dumminy then joined De Villiers. Australia looked completely helpless. De Villiers scored a brilliant ton, and was deservingly judged as the Man of the Match.

No one can say from where is Australia going to go from here onwards. All I can say is by March 2009 we will hopefully get to know who will be the number one team in the world.

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