There comes a time in every great sportsman's life when he knows that he is stil good enough to stand one more time and stamp his authority like he used to do in his heydays when everyone around him clamours for his goodbye and everyone but he himself doubts whether he can.
In cricket, last year that sportsman was Rahul Dravid. This year it is his peer on the other end of the world - a guy who made his debut in the same year as he did and one, for whom, Rahul has the highest respect in world cricket. That man, who has led Australia to three world cup wins is now staring at a goodbye, many would be disappointed to witness. Ricky Ponting has had a career par extraordinaire.
Yet today, he is battling for a place in the Australian test side with a hitherto unknown Daniel Christian. Australia has never looked so vulnerable at home. In such times, they would do India an incredible favour if they dropped Ponting or Hussey.
There is a reason why some players are called greats. Primarily because they have proved themselves over time with unrivalled consistency, more so because they have applied themselves and pushed their game to the level beyond imagination in the most trying of circumstances. Simply put, when they put their minds into it, discard the accusations of frailty from their detractors and believe in their destiny to bid adieu in their own terms, they can be unstoppable.
Lesser known mortals like Ganguly have proved that. So has the great Rahul Dravid and Steven Waugh. So has Anil Kumble and Shane Warne. So has he, in the last World Cup, when he conjured up a century which on any other day would have got his side home. Will Ricky Ponting be able to do an encore in his tryst for a resurrection ? The desperate answer from an ardent Indian supporter is a reserved and apprehensive "no". But deep in his heart, he will feel a tinge of glow for the great man if he were to start the show all over again and show us why he is feared and respected all around the world.
Yet today, he is battling for a place in the Australian test side with a hitherto unknown Daniel Christian. Australia has never looked so vulnerable at home. In such times, they would do India an incredible favour if they dropped Ponting or Hussey.
There is a reason why some players are called greats. Primarily because they have proved themselves over time with unrivalled consistency, more so because they have applied themselves and pushed their game to the level beyond imagination in the most trying of circumstances. Simply put, when they put their minds into it, discard the accusations of frailty from their detractors and believe in their destiny to bid adieu in their own terms, they can be unstoppable.
Lesser known mortals like Ganguly have proved that. So has the great Rahul Dravid and Steven Waugh. So has Anil Kumble and Shane Warne. So has he, in the last World Cup, when he conjured up a century which on any other day would have got his side home. Will Ricky Ponting be able to do an encore in his tryst for a resurrection ? The desperate answer from an ardent Indian supporter is a reserved and apprehensive "no". But deep in his heart, he will feel a tinge of glow for the great man if he were to start the show all over again and show us why he is feared and respected all around the world.
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