Ex-Captain Ricky Ponting has revealed that Shaun Marsh's elevation to the 1st down in the Australian Test team was a part of skipper Michael Clarke's 'long-term plan'. Ponting added that he had no problem in moving down the order as long as he is part of the playing XI.
Australia shuffled its batting order to squeeze in Marsh at the No.3 position, which means former captain Ponting, his successor Clarke and Michael Hussey had to slip down one spot each.
"It was a long-term plan of Michael's to have Shaun move to No 3 and me move to No 4 and Michael move to five and Hussey to No. 6" Ponting said.
"So that wasn't just something I don't think as a one-off for that game. Michael sees that in the best interests of the team going forward for a period of time. So I'll be three this week, probably three in the one-dayers in South Africa and then probably drop back to four for the Test Cricket matches," he added.
Ponting also said that playing at number four spot would give him some more time to think on how to go about his batting.
"When I first came into the Australian side, batting at six was hard. Waiting that amount of time to bat for me was something that was very foreign to me.
"But three to four I don't think is as big a change as three to six, or it certainly wasn't in the last Test because I was in pretty early both times. Slight adjustment. It just gives me a little bit more time once our fielding's over to get my head around what I have to do to bat," Ponting was quoted as saying in the Australian media.
Clarke had earlier made it clear that all-rounder Shane Watson will not be moving down the order from his original opening slot.
Australia shuffled its batting order to squeeze in Marsh at the No.3 position, which means former captain Ponting, his successor Clarke and Michael Hussey had to slip down one spot each.
"It was a long-term plan of Michael's to have Shaun move to No 3 and me move to No 4 and Michael move to five and Hussey to No. 6" Ponting said."So that wasn't just something I don't think as a one-off for that game. Michael sees that in the best interests of the team going forward for a period of time. So I'll be three this week, probably three in the one-dayers in South Africa and then probably drop back to four for the Test Cricket matches," he added.
Ponting also said that playing at number four spot would give him some more time to think on how to go about his batting.
"When I first came into the Australian side, batting at six was hard. Waiting that amount of time to bat for me was something that was very foreign to me.
"But three to four I don't think is as big a change as three to six, or it certainly wasn't in the last Test because I was in pretty early both times. Slight adjustment. It just gives me a little bit more time once our fielding's over to get my head around what I have to do to bat," Ponting was quoted as saying in the Australian media.
Clarke had earlier made it clear that all-rounder Shane Watson will not be moving down the order from his original opening slot.
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