Ponting 'faces challenge to maintain drive that fuelled him so long'

Sydney, Feb 26(ANI): Ricky Ponting, who was dropped from the Australian one-day squad during the ongoing Commonwealth Bank tri-series, now faces a challenge to maintain the very drive that enabled him to perform throughout his long career, according to Australian sports journalist Tim Lane.

Lane believes it was a difficult decision for the Australian selectors to drop Ponting, but it was for the best.

"It was a tough decision the Australian selectors took on Ricky Ponting, but a good one. Not only was the great Tasmanian having a one-day series to warrant the axe, he now knows precisely where he stands. There are to be no laps of honor. He must earn his place in the Test team on merit or the grim reaper will come knocking again," Lane wrote in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Lane feels that, at this stage of his career, Ponting has nothing more to gain but plenty to lose. He added that Ponting should be considered as the first choice in Test cricket due to his blistering form against India.

"Ponting's recent Test form holds him in good stead for now. He must be one of the first picked for Australia's next Test match, but the challenge for him is to maintain the drive that has fuelled him so long. There is no longer a career to build, no longer anything to prove, no longer anything to play for but survival. But there is still all to lose," Lane adds. (ANI)