The transformation is remarkable. And the face lift was non surgical. Victory can do that, it has been known to have that effect.
When Australia lost back to back Tests in Perth and Melbourne to two inspiring South African efforts, Ricky Ponting was aggrieved. The Australian skipper was seeing the first real signs of what it is to captain a team that is in the process of transition. The excuses became predictable. The squad was inexperienced, too many boys on debut, too many experienced hands were calling it quits. The skipper was getting bereft of ideas, making costly conspicuous lapses that suggested perhaps that what Australia needed was a fresh captain, ad Michael Clarke was closing in.
But two wins on the trot, one hard fought in Sydney in Australia and another in the first Test of the three Test series in South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, has certainly seen a more relieved captain and a few smiles breaking on Ponting’s face.
Not only did it mean that the team still knew how to win, but that they were not scarred by their losses in India and in Australia. Ponting has had a complete change of heart. A captain who believed they were the underdogs despite being the world champions simply because they would have three debutants in a Test now believes it was the tremendous fortitude of his young men and he now appears to want to lead a young team, now that he knows he can believe in them.
Ponting may have undergone a rejuvenation with the Johannesburg victory and he will now have to take that positive frame of mind to think afresh for Durban.
T2 Preview: Aus-SA Battle Injuries Ahead of Durban Test
T1: SA Relive Perth Memories Before Swallowing Result of Sydney
T1 Day 4: SA Set Another History Seeking Target after Aus Crumble
T1 Day 3: AB Backs Ponting’s Decision; Makes Light of His Century
T1 Day 3 Tea Time: AB’s Spark Amidst the Gloom
Aus To Play Pakistan But in UAE
T1 Day 2: Smiths Lauds Kallis 10000 Class Efforts; But SA Struggle
T1 Day2 Tea Time: North- Star on Debut; Johnson – The Heartbreak Kid
Time to Let Number Three Breathe
Chesterfield Special: Tough Road to Triumph for Proteas
T1 Day 2 Lunch Time: Another Century Partnership Bails Australia Out
Day1 Tea Time: Aus Breathe Easier but Lose Key Wickets
T1 Lunch Time: Aus Blood Three Debutants; Smith Drops Ponting
RSA- Aus:Captains Brace for Use of Referral System
SA- Aus Preview: South Africa Leave Prince Out, Call Tsotsobe
SA – Aus Preview: Australia Land With New Faces, Arduous Dreams
SA- Aus: Look Back on the Australian Summer
The World’s Best Cricket Team?
Ponting: Too Many Captains in South African Team
Aus Crowd Reaction: Better to SA This Year than India Last Year
Smith Confesses Amidst Adulation
Kallis Joins the Eight Man 10000 Club; Finds Ponting’s Backing
Desmond Tutu Showers Blessings of Praise for South Africa’s Cricket Heroics
Ponting– Confident of Regaining Lost Glory; Wants to Emulate Federer, Armstrong
ODI 5 Fulltime: Debutant Tsotsobe Scripts South African Fairy Tale Win
Symonds Will Not Be Going to South Africa
How Proteas self-belief earned success Down Under
SA Will Stage Comeback in ODI’s
How Smith and Warne shaped the Test success
Smith Seeks Patience for One day Results
Can’t Keep This Man Out of the Action!
An old tale of committee captaincy looms
Mickey Arthur unveils new Protea ODI plans
Smith Holds of Surgery for Clash against Australia
A Smith-less Proteas in ODI challenge Down Under
KP: Problems with all Non- SA Coaches Now?
Arthur: Playing It Safe, Smith May Be Chained!
Should SA Have Halted the Game?
IPL Auctions: The Predictable Four ‘Big Fish’
Double Tragic Tales: Smith’s Broken Bones Shift Advantage; Lee Out As Well
Looking at the World’s New No.1 ODI Team
Morkel powerplays pinch-hitting revives the Zulu image
Connect Obama to Cricket and USA Will Be the One in Power
Morne’s Racial Abuse Deftly Handed; SA All Praises
Think India Should Be Number One; SA says, Think Again!
Thought, Not Technique Behind South Africa’s Success?
EXCLUSIVE: Pics from the South Africa Stables!
Chesterfield Special: Tough Road to Triumph for Proteas
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