Former skipper Ponting welcomes Oz cricket makeover

Melbourne: Former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting has welcomed the revamping of the country’s cricket saying it should have taken place a decade ago.

"I think it`s terrific. I think it`s the way the game should have gone a long, long time ago .I think the way things have turned out at the moment is what (former coach) John Buchanan was asking for 10 years ago. It`s a much more professional approach.” a leading daily quoted Ponting as saying. "We`ve got quality people in and around the team and I think, even already now, we`re starting to see just a slightly different feel and a few different results as a result of that. I think Australian cricket is definitely on the right track." he added. Cricket Australia has undertaken drastic measures following the Argus Report conducted after the country’s Ashes defeat on home soil. The body has appointed a foreigner- Mickey Arthur as head coach, former rugby administrator Pat Howard as team performance manager, and introduced a new selection panel comprising John Inverarity, captain Michael Clarke, Rod Marsh, Andy Bichel and Arthur. Inverarity has devised youth and rotation policies for the Test team. Ponting further said he was not thinking about his retirement ahead of his 157th Test. "I honestly have not thought about retirement. I can`t afford to think about it and when that time is going to be. I’m a proud person as well and I want to make sure that I`m giving myself every chance to be a match-winning cricketer for Australia.” he said. Ponting had earlier revealed that he wanted to become a selector when he replaced former skipper Steve Waugh in 2004. ANI