You're Out: Six Who Will Be Missing When England Defend the Ashes

Filed under: Cricket, The Ashes, England Cricket, Australia Cricket

The current Ashes series is certain to be a watershed in the careers of players from both sides. Some have cemented their Test place for the foreseeable future, others are on their way out - perhaps forever. Here FanHouse takes a look at six of those on the wrong sides of the tracks, the men who cannot expect to still be involved when Australia visit England in 2013 to try and regain world cricket's oldest - and smallest - trophy. Not surprisingly, most of them are Australian.

AUSTRALIA:
Ricky Ponting: With 12,000 runs to his name, "Punter" deserves all the accolades in the world for a wonderful Test career spanning 150 matches and nearly 100 victories. But the miles on the clock have started to affect Ponting and he needs to find the strength of character to walk before he is pushed. His batting has been atrocious this series and his captaincy even worse, summed up by his diabolical attack on umpire Aleem Dar when he did not get his own way over a Kevin Pietersen dismissal. Ponting used to have a permanent baby face; now he looks 10 years older than his 36 years. He may wish to battle on and even return to the anonymity of being a mere player rather than captain and perhaps his Test record means he should be indulged and allowed to do that. But it is crystal clear that Australia need to rebuild from the top down.

Marcus North: When North departed from Adelaide after scoring just 26 and 22, it was widely believed that he was leaving the Test arena for the last time. There would appear to be no logic in bringing him back either. Aged 31 and with only five centuries to his name in 35 innings, North has been a faithful if uninspiring Australia servant and that will not be enough to get him on the plane in 2013.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/12/29/youre-out-six-who-will-be-missing-when-england-defend-the-ashe/

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