Ponting gave me freedom to be the captain I wanted to be: Clarke
April 21st, 2011 - 2:53 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Apr 21(ANI): Australia’s new skipper Michael Clarke has said that Ricky Ponting had allowed him to do things his way during the three-match ODI tour of Bangladesh, and insists that he did not feel under pressure to bow to his former captain.
Clarke, who started his captaincy with a 3-0 win in the series, had replaced Ponting as skipper following the team’s World Cup quarterfinal exit last month.
“Ponting was there in Bangladesh when I needed him. Ask him a question and he’ll give me the answer, then it’s the captain and the vice-captain’s decision to work out what’s best for the team and make that call,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.
“He gave me the freedom to be me and be the captain I wanted to be. As I said before we left for Bangladesh, Punter and I have a great relationship and I know that’s the guy he is - he’ll want to continue to do whatever is best for the team and he certainly did that in Bangladesh,” he added.
Ponting has retained his place as a batsman in the squad, and his demotion seems to have done no harm to his batting.
The former skipper followed his century in Australia’s World Cup quarterfinal against India with 118 runs in the series at a healthy average of 59. (ANI)
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- Australia needs hard nuts like "Punter" despite World Cup debacle: Dean Jones - Mar 27, 2011
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- CA divided over Ponting as captain after World Cup - Mar 22, 2011
- Cautious Clarke raises World Cup risk factor - Jan 21, 2011
- Ex-Oz captains praise Ponting's move to play and help Clarke - Mar 30, 2011
- No regrets about standing down: Ponting - Dec 07, 2011
- Ponting resigns as Australian Test, ODI captain but will continue playing as batsman - Mar 29, 2011
- New Oz skipper Clarke relegates Ponting to stock-standard hotel room - Apr 05, 2011
- Former Oz Test stars want youth into Australian one-day cricket team - Mar 27, 2011
- Ponting hindering renewal of Oz team by not giving up skipper's job: Chappell - Dec 30, 2010
- Clarke needs a mind-blowing knock to establish he's Oz captaincy material: Jones - Oct 23, 2010
Tags: australia, bangladesh, batsman, captain clarke, demotion, freedom, great relationship, India, match, melbourne, michael clarke, morning herald, odi, punter, quarterfinal, ricky, skipper, sydney morning herald, vice captain, world cup