It was this instinctive side that allowed Ponting to compensate for that which does not come so naturally. As a leader, Ponting has encountered his share of critics over the past six years, and the horde was in full voice at Sophia Gardens after a first session in which England's tail milked 99 runs to advance their first innings total to an authoritative 435.Questionable bowling plans, defensive fields and a general lack of aggression all played into the free-swinging hands of Graeme Swann and James Anderson on the second morning, prompting a reloading of slings and a sharpening of arrows in Ponting's direction. True, the captain could not be held responsible for the errant line of Peter Siddle nor the short length of Mitchell Johnson, but neither was he effective in containing a situation that spiralled out of control faster than a bad day at Lehman Brothers.
Some leaders are born. Ponting was manufactured. That is not to say that over time he has not become a capable captain - Test series victories in South Africa are never to be sneezed at, and particularly so with an inexperienced squad - but seldom has Ponting convinced his public that he is cut from the same intuitive cloth as the Borders, Taylors and Waughs.
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