Ponting bucks the trend
The trend recently is of players retiring from Test cricket to prolong their Twenty20 careers, or at least professing a preference for the format limited in length but unlimited in financial inducement. But, Ricky Ponting isn’t going to be following that trend, having announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals to prolong his Test career.
This is a good thing for the world of cricket, and hopefully it will be Ponting as well, particularly as it comes from a leading international captain. Test cricket needs its leading players to show their support for it, and they don’t come with much higher profiles than Ponting.
As I said after the fifth Test in London, I am hoping to continue playing Test cricket for as long as possible and retiring from the Twenty20 format gives me the best chance of doing this. I will now have set periods of rest throughout the Australian summer and while touring which I feel will be very beneficial.” [Source]
Australia have generally been the most overt nation when it comes to Test/T20 priorities, having been strong enough to refuse some of their contracted players permission to play in this years IPL competition. Who knows, if only England had taken a similar stance, they may have been able to call on the services of Pietersen and Flintoff for all five Ashes Tests and the Champions Trophy.
Whilst Ponting will continue to play domestic T20, and in the IPL, it it nonetheless a good sign that there are players who are willing to put Test cricket first and foremost.
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