Ponting says Oz cricket would not have 'deteoriated' if CA's 'ears had opened at earlier time'

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that Australian cricket would not have deteoriated to such a point where it even needed an Argus review if Cricket Australia's (CA) 'ears had been opened at an earlier time'.

Ponting made the comment in his candid autobiography 'At the Close of Play' which was launched by former Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday.

According to Telegraph.com.au, Ponting claimed that he was angry when his attempts to try and keep the team No. 1 were often ignored, adding that the current condition of the team might have been half avoidable and Australian cricket would have been in a different, better place if CA had heeded his words that time.

Stating that everyone is defined by results, Ponting further said that he was stunned when he was told by CA chief executive James Sutherland that 'no one ever spends money when they are going well' after Ponting and then-coach John Buchanan presented their quarterly reports to the board.

Ponting further said he cannot understand why the team had a specialist bowling coach but not a batting coach when it had only four bowlers and seven batsmen, adding that the real foresight had to be there a long time ago as success for Australian cricket is not going to be a quick-fix solution now.

Ponting also said that they needed to find out ways to keep themselves on their position at the top of the world rankings when they were there instead of merely being complacent.