By IANS
Sydney : Australian captain Ricky Ponting says both his and the Indian Test teams are in the rebuilding phase and when the process in completed in about one-and-half years it would be interesting to follow the two sides.
Wiring in The Australian newspaper, Ponting said India’s policy to give preference to the youth was obvious from the one-day team now playing in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular Series against Australia and Sri Lanka.
“India has shown its cards for the future with its squad. It is obviously looking at youth. Leaving Sourav Ganguly out is a clear indication of that. He has been one of the better performers over the past couple of seasons, but India is looking to rebuild with younger batsmen,” wrote Ponting.
“India will be in a rebuilding phase with its Test cricket as well in the next 12 to 18 months. That was a point I made after the Adelaide Test match, when I was asked about it challenging us for the No. 1 ranking.”
About his own team, Ponting said that after the retirement of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist – he retires from ODIs after the triangular series — from Test cricket, his team would try to fill in their shoes.
“We are halfway through our rebuilding phase, and India still has a long road ahead, so it will be interesting to see how it comes up,” he said.
“Cricket teams are constantly in a state of evolution, and I think you saw a hint of what might happen in the future when Matthew Hayden couldn’t play against India in Brisbane (Feb 3). It was the perfect opportunity for James Hopes to open the batting. It is a job he has done well for Queensland and one I think he could do well for Australia in one-day cricket.”
Poting pointed out that Hopes is a quiet achiever but he “seems to be going from strength to strength” in domestic tournaments and has “never let us down when called up” for his country.