Chappell had a role in Ponting's decision: Hughes

Former Australian Test captain Kim Hughes feels former skipper and current national selector Greg Chappell forced Ricky Ponting to step down as Australia captain.

Former Australian Test captain Kim Hughes feels former skipper and current national selector Greg Chappell forced Ricky Ponting to step down as Australia captain.

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Ponting though made it clear that Australia's World Cup ouster had prompted his decision and insisted that he was not pressurised by Cricket Australia to give up the leadership role. But Hughes, who was compelled to resign as Australian captain in the mid 1980s following a string of heavy losses, is convinced that Ponting did not make the decision on his own, and Chappell had a role to play.

"Greg is a strong enough personality and if he doesn't want Ricky Ponting there then that would be it, whether Ricky Ponting wanted to stay or not," Hughes said.