Ricky Ponting's Leadership Under Fire as Australia's Chances Slip Away

Ricky Ponting's leadership of the Australian cricket team has come under intense scrutiny as England surged to a commanding lead in the second Test at Adelaide Oval. Despite a valiant effort from Ponting, the team remains in a precarious position, and Ponting's chances of surviving as Test captain until the 2013 Ashes series have been called into question by former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Key Takeaways:

• Ponting's leadership has been criticized by Vaughan, who believes that the Australian captain is trying too hard to prove himself, resulting in inconsistent field placings and plans.
• Vaughan thinks Ponting might get back to England as a batsman, but doubts he will remain as captain: "I'd be amazed if he's there as captain."
• Shane Watson has conceded that rain is Australia's best hope of salvaging a draw from the Test, which England is currently dominating 4/551, leading by 306 runs.
• Ponting has acknowledged the importance of the batting effort, citing the need for Australia's batsmen to emulate England's application and skills.
• Ponting has opted to support his batsmen, acknowledging that "Most of the work now has to be done with our batting" and that the team needs to learn from England's success on this wicket.

Statistics:

• England's lead is 306 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the match.
• England has scored 551 runs in their second innings, with Kevin Pietersen contributing significantly to their total.
• Ponting has come under heavy criticism for his leadership, with Vaughan calling into question his ability to keep the team on track.
• Australia's batsmen, particularly Simon Katich, are struggling with injuries, with Katich's Achilles tendon severely swollen.
• Ponting's decision to support his batsmen may come too late, with the collective effort required to salvage a draw proving to be an insurmountable task.

Sources:

• "Ricky Ponting admits the real character of his besieged Australian side will be revealed today" (unspecified publication date)
• Vaughan, M. (quoted in article).