The champagne remains on ice for Ricky Ponting, and not just because he failed to break his horror Test ton drought on Saturday.
He may have hit a fighting 78 in the first trans-Tasman Test at the Gabba, but the ex-Australian skipper will not be raising a toast to his Test future just yet.
In a sobering stat, Ponting has not scored a Test hundred since January 2010.
He spent almost four hours at the crease in Brisbane trying to rectify that.
However, he will need to wait a little longer for his 40th century after being trapped in front by Chris Martin on day three.
Retirement rumours will not go away for the 36-year-old but his knock will keep them at bay - for now.
A quick look around the dressing room is enough to remind Ponting of the enormous pressure he is under.
Three players were handed baggy greens before the Test - and national selectors are not afraid to order more.
New chairman of selectors John Inverarity has endorsed a youth policy.
But Ponting's main threats are very familiar, rather than fresh, faces.
Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh are set to return from injury and slot into the batting order, and Ponting knows he must keep scoring to ensure he is not the odd man out.
There were glimpses of the Ponting of old, rather than old Ponting, at the Gabba.
But there was also another familiar sight - Ponting out lbw.
He has now been trapped in front three times in the last four innings, and the worrying trend does not look like changing with his long-time tendency to shuffle across his stumps and play across the line.
The introduction of the decision review system has only magnified his problem.
In the past, umpires would often to err on the side of caution when Ponting was rapped on the pads.
These days umpires will raise the finger more often than not knowing teams can use technology to review what they believe is a contentious decision.
Still, Ponting looked set to break the drought on Saturday.
Even when Martin trapped Ponting in front and umpire Aleem Dar's finger went up the Gabba faithful dared to dream.
Called back by captain Michael Clarke from the non-striker's end, Ponting opted for a review.
But Ponting's already forlorn expression said it all - the lean run was going to extend to 29 innings.
It was still 78 runs more than Ponting thought he would get after almost being run out before scoring on Friday.
It appeared to be a good omen: he was dropped on nought before hitting his last ton, 209 against Pakistan in Hobart.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, australia, new-zealand First posted December 04, 2011 08:40:21
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