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A little earlier today I watched a press conference as Ricky Ponting announced he was stepping down as Australian cricket captain. He hoped, he said, to continue playing for the team, but that was out of his hands.
It was a dignified and typically forthright performance. As I wrote a few days ago he is a divisive figure in the national consciousness. Many admire him as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and as very tough nut. Many more think he is an abrasive, charmless character.
I'm definitely in the former camp. Though I support his decision I found myself feeling sad today on hearing the news. For all his faults - and he has some - he remains one of my favourite ever players. Like many men I utmost respect for the innate fighting qualities he has put on display time and again.
In some ways it's a very Australian admiration, which is why we tend to turn out tough characters like this on a regular basis. As Australians, and Australian men in particular, we have great suspicions over those we suspect as being a bit of a showpony - example Michael Clarke (who I actually like). We can respect the aesthetic qualities of our sportsmen, but what we truly admire are those we know who will go that extra mile. That's one of the defining qualities of Australian sporting success, and the benchmark we tend to measure our sportsmen by. We won't always win, but we're never beaten.
Ponting epitomises that standard. His excesses are generally the spillover of competitive zeal. He said today his motivation has always been to be part of Australian victories, and to share those victories with his team mates. He is an imperfect human being, but he is also the genuine article. I don't agree with all he says or does, but likewise think he is marked hard and often unreasonably. He is uncomplaining and honest, a hard visage throug which we occasionally glimpse the man his team mates adore, the tender husband and father, and the faithful, devoted servant to Australian cricket.
I hope to see Ricky Ponting scoring centuries for Australia again now this burden has been lifted from him. It is enough to see him step down as captain, it is too soon for him to be lost to us altogether. I don't know if people properly recognise what a colossus he has been in world cricket; better now to enjoy and understand that than regret later what we never properly appreciated.
