Cricket: Ponting's decision to bat backfires

Perhaps Ricky Ponting suffers post-traumatic stress from Edgbaston in 2005 when he won the toss, only to lose that test. Photo / Getty Images

After winning the toss and batting in perfect bowling conditions against Pakistan at the SCG today, Ricky Ponting admitted his own bowlers would be feeling "disappointed".

This qualifies as perhaps cricket's greatest understatement since 1981 when Bill Lawry described Trevor Chappell's infamous underarm delivery against New Zealand as "possibly a little bit disappointing".

If Ponting's pacemen - Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson - were not pacing their cages and gnashing their teeth in frustration, then they were not card-carrying members of the fast bowlers' union.

How they would love to have been let off the leash in the second test.

The sky was grey, conditions were damp and the SCG pitch was as green as the gills of a New Year reveller the morning after.

Former Australia and NSW fast bowler Geoff Lawson said: "In 14 years of playing here I never saw that much grass in total."

If Ponting was unwilling to send the opposition in under circumstances like that, then he may never do so again.

Perhaps he still suffers post-traumatic stress from Edgbaston in 2005, when he won the toss and inserted England in juicy bowling conditions, only to lose that test.

It proved to be the turning point of the series and Ponting's men went on to surrender the Ashes.

In a captaincy career of 30 correct coin calls, Ponting has batted first 28 times.

To do so is, and always has been, conventional wisdom.

But there are times when captains must take their courage in both hands; cast conventional wisdom aside.

The first day scorecard showed this was one.

Hindsight is 20-20, but Australia was on the back foot from the first ball as Pakistan's bowlers enjoyed movement through the air and off the pitch.

Several batsman - Ponting, Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin among them - aided the visitors' cause with injudicious shots.

But seven Aussies had trekked back to the pavilion inside the first session.

Before the day's play got underway three and a half hours late because of persistent drizzle, Pakistan's captain Mohammad Yousuf was asked how many wickets he would like before stumps.

"Ten," he replied. Some thought he was joking.

Ponting would be familiar with W.G.Grace's celebrated view on captaincy:

"When you win the toss, bat.

"If you are in doubt, think about it, then bat.

"If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague, then bat."

There are exceptions to every rule.

A miraculous Australian fightback is not out of the question and that's what it will take to spare the captain's blushes.

- AAP