Zaahier Adams
Being able to select players with an eye on the future and winning in the present is a tricky business. The ability to match promise and potential, and back a hunch is risky when the stakes are high.
It could not have been any higher for Ricky Ponting ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The former Australian captain was entrusted with a mountainous sum of money to put together a group of players that could win a first-ever IPL championship title for Punjab Kings.
Ponting made his intentions clear early on when Punjab shattered the IPL record by signing Shreyas Iyer for $3.18 million (about R58m) – only to see Lucknow Super Giants eclipse the mark a few moments later with the purchase of Rishabh Pant for $3.21m.
But Ponting and Punjab were not to be deterred when they snapped up leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal before utilising their “Right to Match” card to retain Indian left-arm seam bowler Arshdeep Singh. The retention of Arshdeep was only half of Ponting’s new-ball plan though.
Just a couple of weeks ago Arshdeep, who is the leading T20 bowler in the world this year, went head-to-head with Proteas left-arm seamer Marco Jansen. But now Ponting wanted them to bring the two southpaws together to spearhead Punjab’s attack. And he did just that by purchasing Jansen, too.
The Aussie legend was overjoyed that his plan was starting to come together, especially with the Proteas all-rounder forming a major part of it all.
“We are delighted to have him (Jansen),” Ponting said.
“He will probably form a very good new-ball combination with Singh. The two left-armers running in at either end. I am really excited about the impact he might have on the IPL next year.”
Ponting was further enthused that he did not need to break the bank to get Jansen into the Punjab Kings stable.
“We budgeted more, we thought there would be a fair bit of interest from teams around Marco, him being a world-class all-rounder,” Ponting said. “I thought it was a very good buy.”
Jansen, who was the leading wicket-taker in Betway SA20 Season 2 and is the current Cricket South Africa (CSA) Cricketer of the Year, has worked with Ponting before.
It was at the MLC earlier this year in the US where Jansen played under Ponting at the Washington Freedom. The lanky seamer made a lasting impression, especially with his three-wicket haul in the final to propel the Freedom to a maiden MLC championship title.
Ponting believes that despite Jansen’s achievements already in his international career, the Proteas allrounder has yet to reach his fulfil potential and could be the next global superstar.
“I had a chance to work with him in MLC at the Washington Freedom. A lovely guy and a highly talented player. We will get even more out of him this year at the IPL. I think he is on the up. He will only get better year after year,” Ponting said.
Jansen is already fulfilling Ponting’s prophecy after he returned to Test cricket last week in spectacular fashion after a lengthy strength and conditioning programme upon instruction by CSA.
The lanky seamer caused all sorts of havoc in the first Test by claiming career-best match figures of 11/86. It included a devastating spell of 7/13 to rout Sri Lanka for a record low 42 in their first innings.
He will hope to continue this devastating form when the Proteas face Sri Lanka in the second and final Test at St George’s Park on Thursday.