Ponting and the Brand

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Cricket is to summer as vegemite is to toast: hand in glove or hand to mouth, the two come together for a feast of sport at this time of the year. When our cricketers are winning, the nation is full of happy little Vegemites. So, when a key ingredient of the game of cricket retires and no longer stands upon the commercial shelf of fame, a void opens up like the gap between the bat and pad of ill-prepared batsmen.

And so it was when Ponting recently left the crease, the steely Tasmanian who once sported a goatee and a shiner in the same year. But those were the early days when impetuous youth was blunted by bucket loads of talent, which lasted right up until his final dismissal in Perth at the ripe age of 36. He might not have been able to pull many punches during a night out in Kings Cross but during his illustrious career out in the middle, Ponting’s effortless ability to despatch a rising delivery over mid-wicket, left many a fieldsman ducking for cover.

Ponting’s departure brings uncertainty to the Aussie top order as it does to supermarkets across the country. Wander down the aisle of Coles, Woolies and IGA and you’ll find the Vegemite’s not happy after losing to South Africa, “Yar”, and the Swisse brand of multivitamins looks decidedly bereft with the departure of Punter, its poster boy. Whilst there was a lot to like about the Demolition Sale involving Sri Lanka in two of three Tests, the loss of ‘our’ trusty number three batsman from the ranks is causing the shelves to rattle with anticipation, in much the same way as the Members Pavilion does on day one of the New Year’s test match. Can Hughes cut the Keen’s mustard?

Whilst Swisse, desperate to recapture some form, has ventured back to the nets, Weetbix has batted its way to the front in an aggressive display to match its brusque brick exterior. Not to be outdone, Milo is waiting in the slips hoping to catch any shards of cereal that fly its way, and in the process, cement its spot in a cordon soon to be without the ever-reliable Mike Hussey.

As we appear pretty in pink for the Jane McGrath Foundation, farewell ‘Mr Cricket’, tip our broad-brimmed hats and jangle car keys for ex-England captain and cricket commentator Tony Greig, the Sydney test is sure to feature plenty of blood, sweat and tears. Gatorade will play a big part and might even earn man of the match for replenishing some of these essential body fluids. But for those spectators who need alcohol to help cope during an emotional five- days (hopefully) of cricket, well, “The Best Cold Beer Is….Vic “

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