Ponting dropped from Australian ODI squad
Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the Australian squad after a disappointing run in the ongoing CB Series.
Ponting failed to reach double digits in Australia’s first five games of the series, making 2, 1, 6, 2 and 7.
It will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Tasmanian, who stood in as captain for the injured Michael Clarke in the last two games.
The Australian selectors did not use the euphemism ‘rested’ to explain Ponting’s omission and national selector John Inverarity suggested that Ponting’s ODI career may indeed be over.
“The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport,” Inverarity said.
The Aussies will be boosted by the return of Clarke as well as explosive all-rounder Shane Watson.
Squad (for the next two ODIs): Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade and David Warner
