MELBOURNE, Nov 11: Ricky Ponting may be considered a premier batsman in contemporary cricket but as a skipper he is pretty ordinary, feels Australian bowling great Jeff Thomson.

Thomson said he was never convinced of Ponting’s leadership qualities and the resounding 2-0 series defeat against India only vindicates his view.

“I always thought he was an ordinary captain and this proves it,” said Thomson. “His captaincy calculator isn’t that brilliant, is it? Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great batsman but an ordinary captain,” he told the Herald Sun.

Thommo said he distinctly felt a mature change in ex-skipper Steve Waugh’s approach when he took over Australia’s reins as skipper. “Maybe Steve [Waugh] was not a natural leader too, but he worked tremendously hard on his job,” said Thomson. “He matured with literally every game and was as good as any captain in the business by the time he hanged up his boots. The same cannot be said of Ponting.”

The sluggish over-rate in the Nagpur Test could have earned Ponting a one Test ban but the Australian captain used part-time bowlers and got away with a fine of 20 per cent match fees. But the decision to keep strike bowlers out of action and operating with the part-timers dashed whatever hopes Australia had of winning the Test and levelling the series and Ponting continues to draw flak for putting himself ahead of team.

His predecessor Steve Waugh said only the captain should not be blamed for slow over-rates but felt Ponting did make a mistake in Nagpur.

Another former captain, Ian Chappell, said Ponting cut a sorry figure in Nagpur but he still was the best man to lead the side.

“Ponting is still the best bet as captain for Australia. I think he is a good captain but for god’s sake, he has got to stop Getting himself into trouble with the over-rates,” Chappell added.—Agencies