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Replacing Ponting as Australian captain will be virtually impossible

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Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo sings the praises of Aussie captain Ricky "Punter" Ponting and wonders who wil eventually replace him

Ricky Ponting (born 19 December 1974 in Launceston, Tasmania) is an extraordinary batsman and the most superb captain I have ever seen (so better than Clive Lloyd). He is probably the finest in the history of the game. He has all the credentials of the perfect captain.

He was born to lead. He is passionate, tenacious and a street fighter, he will not shirk a scrap and has a will the size of Uluru. He makes Michael Vaughan look like a dolly mixture. The consummate manner in which he controls his team makes him impossible to follow. It will become the hardest job in cricket history to be the next Australian captain!

Ponting made his Sheffield Shield debut at the age of 17 and was an instant success with Rod Marsh saying he was the best teenage batsman he had ever seen. Debuts at a very young age may be fairly common in the sub-continent, but in Australia it is a rarity. Unfortunately, early in his career he suffered with alcohol problems and dissension and this held him back but he overcame his issues to became part of the heartbeat of one of Australia's most successful teams ever. He is still growing with maturity, even at 32. He is now the most marketable sportsman in Australia.

He made his Test debut in December 1995 and elevated to the No. 3 position in 1996. He took the ODI captaincy in early 2002 becoming Test captain in early 2004. As of December 2007, he is the second highest ranked Test batsman and the highest ranked ODI batsman in the ICC ratings. He has played 112 Tests scoring 33 centuries and 38 fifties averaging 59.42 (note the conversion rate) and 285 ODIs scoring 23 centuries and 63 fifties averaging 43.41.

Only three men have more Test centuries than Ricky Ponting and one of those - Steve Waugh, Ponting's predecessor as Australia captain - firmly expects the Tasmanian to end his career as the game's leading run scorer (see www.cricinfo.com). I agree!

Uniquely, his scoring has improved since being appointed captain and there is no one in world cricket in better form. I have heard the whispers that he is less adept against spin bowling on turning wickets though old statistics pre 2002 do not tell how much he has improved. He can be an uncertain starter however, playing around a planted front leg with hard hands.

It was obvious the pain he felt after the 2005 Ashes defeat becoming the first Australian to relinquish the trophy in twenty years. Lessons were learned, including coming to terms with reverse swing and complacency. He then went on to start an amazing streak of 16 wins in 17 Tests, culminating in the 5-0 demolition of England to regain the urn in the most emphatic way. Ponting was Man of the Series as Australia became the first team in 86 years to achieve an Ashes cleansweep and his 576 runs at 82.28 confirmed him as the game's modern master.

So who will be replace Ponting as captain? Is the man currently playing for Australia at this moment? I struggle to visualise an heir apparent! Those older will not be in the frame so it must go to a younger player or someone about to break into the team, but who?

Could it be Michael 'pup' Clarke (former Australian under-19 skipper)? It does appear that he is being groomed for Test captaincy by leading the side in the recent Twenty20 match against New Zealand at Perth. The youngest skipper since Kim Hughes (25) to lead the side in an International match.

Australia [1.28] take on New Zealand [5.8] in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy starting on Friday 14 December 2007 in Adelaide in the first of three ODIs where the home side are a [1.28] chance with Vettori's troops available at [3.5] in a slightly immature market. I shall watch Clarke a touch closer to see if there is any thought sharing with Ponting.

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