Ponting defends his ODI selection
February 18, 2012 17:36:27 UK
Ricky Ponting has said that he still deserves to be a part of Australia's one day set-up, although he admits that he needs to start scoring runs sooner rather than later.
Australia have now lost to India and Sri Lanka in back-to-back ODI matches, and their poor form in the 50-over format has coincided with Ponting's personal slide. The stand-in Aussie captain hasn't scored in double digits for four consecutive innings now and the pressure is starting to build up on him once again. But the 37-year-old batsman is still adamant that he deserves to play for Australia at highest level.
You have to score runs, that's what it's all about.
Ricky Ponting
Australia are 1.66 to get the win in their upcoming seventh ODI match against India, who themselves are 2.20 to emerge victorious.
When asked if he still believes that he is worthy of a place in the ODI squad, Ponting answered: "I think I am but you'd better ask the selectors what they think about that. My last four games have not been what they would have liked but I guess if the selectors were thinking that way already then they probably wouldn't have picked me for the start of the series.
"There are still a few senior players around the side and they made it clear to the younger guys at the start of the summer that it was vital they have a little bit of experience around them. But saying that it's not just reputation that going to get you picked. You have to score runs, that's what it's all about. I know that as well as anyone," he added.
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