Former captain Ricky Ponting has given a ringing endorsement of Australian cricket's new selection and squad regime, saying it should have occurred a decade ago.
Preparing for his 157th Test this week against New Zealand in Brisbane, Ponting was glowing in his support for Cricket Australia's (CA) appointments of his successor Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur as selectors.
New selection chief John Inverarity has already earmarked a change in direction with youth and rotation policies applied to the Test squad, while CA has also bucked tradition by appointing former rugby union administrator and international Pat Howard as high-performance manager.
Ponting, under immense pressure at 36 to hold his place in the top order, says cricket is taking a more professional track under the new regime.
"I think it's terrific. I think it's the way the game should have gone a long, long time ago," he said.
"I think the way things have turned out at the moment is what (former coach) John Buchanan was asking for 10 years ago.
"It's a much more professional approach.
"We've got quality people in and around the team and I think, even already now, we're starting to see just a slightly different feel and a few different results as a result of that.
"I think Australian cricket is definitely on the right track."
Ponting revealed in Sri Lanka, his first tour after relinquishing the captaincy, two months ago that he had wanted to become a selector when he replaced former captain Steve Waugh in 2004.
He feels Clarke is in a better position as a selector as he will have more control of the team to go along with the amount of responsibility that captaincy brings.
"It was pretty hard to be accountable for everything that happens but that's the way it was right through my time," he said.
"I think it's a really good decision to go that way to make the captain and the coach both selectors."
Ponting reiterated he harboured no thoughts of retirement, even with the second and final Test against New Zealand being staged in Hobart where he could have a fairytale swansong in his home state.
"I honestly have not thought about retirement," he said.
"I can't afford to think about it and when that time is going to be.
"I'm a proud person as well and I want to make sure that I'm giving myself every chance to be a match-winning cricketer for Australia.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, australia First posted November 28, 2011 16:49:49
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