Ponting-- Confident of Regaining Lost Glory; Wants to Emulate Federer, Armstrong

by Veena Gabriel

It seems the bruised and battered Australian Skipper Ricky Ponting has plenty of time to look around and ponder upon the rapid downfall of his one time cricket champions team.

ponting1 jOkTI 17022

He has been thinking about other sportsmen who were once at the pinnacle of their own game and slipped down but rose again from the ashes to become the monarchs again.

He is now comparing the rise and fall of the Australian cricket team to the rise again of two greats, obviously not from cricket world---- Lance Armstrong who came back three years after retirement and won the most gruelling event in the Tour de France, the multiple win causing punsters to name the race as Tour de Lance.

Roger Federer seems to be another one who has impressed Ponting. He gave his example as to how even after injuries, illness and loosing main events like Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon he came back to win the US Open last year.

Ponting is also drawing emotional support from his favourite Football teams, namely the Brisbane Lions, who after winning three premierships and after playing in four Grand Finals, slid to oblivion and are now putting themselves together for another round of tournaments.

It is natural for Ponting to look to other sports arenas to justify the Team Australia's humbling defeats, and to admit that their poor play was due to retirements, controversies. But he is confident that with the new generation gaining more experience from playing in the test matches and the return of senior player like Micheal Clarke as Vice Captain will spell victory for the team.

Ponting has realised that enthusiasm and experience are sure ingredients for winning matches, now only if he could add a little humility it could also work wonders.

If only Ricky Ponting realises that!