Ricky Ponting must be dropped from the Test team immediately. There is a level of experience and leadership that he brings to the team, but we have reached a point where that no longer outweighs the development in younger players that his continual selection stunts.

This time, it was not his failure to make a score that has me calling for his innings to come to an end, it was his 50 on Boxing Day, and the manner in which it was received.

The standing ovation that followed Ponting's half-ton was pathetic. There was a time when the same event would have been recognised with a golf clap, with the crowd presuming that there would be more in store. This crowd, however, was unconvinced that they would get any more chances to acknowledge the champion batsman, and so latched onto the first one they got. It was sad.

But he will most likely retain his spot in the side, and that reeks of an inconsistency at the top level that I can't stand. No matter how poorly Ponting, and I will add to him Michael Hussey as well, continue to perform, they retain their spot in the side. They have scored big in the past, so they might do it again soon. They are being selected on reputation well ahead of form.

How unfortunate for the future batsmen of Australia's Test team, such as Usman Khawaja, that form is not overlooked for them. Khawaja was dropped because he didn't make a big score in six tests. Ponting hasn't scored a ton in two years. Hussey has scored 83 runs in his last eight innings. It's such a double standard that it's no wonder Khawaja was bitter about being dropped.

If not being based on form, you'd think that the selection policy would give respect to the future of the team, of which Ponting, 37, and Hussey, 36, are hardly a part. The more Tests they play now, the fewer the likes of Khawaja, Dan Christian, Ed Cowan, and David Hussey play, which only delays their probationary period in the side. It also prevents those players from playing together, forming a cohesive group with a settled batting order.

Sure, Christian and Khawaja may in the next few series. So may Ponting and Hussey. If recent form is any indication - which it is - it is just as likely that the experienced heads won't score well.

Ponting did make some runs in the first innings at the MCG, but if he is retained on that form this will only serve to reinforce my point. Khawaja was dropped because he couldn't kick on from an innings in the 60s. Ponting is saved because he reached it. Sad.

If Michael Hussey was under pressure heading into this test, has even less going for him now. After the first innings against India (and poor umpiring decisions aside) he is now on a hat-trick of golden ducks. His recent form is woeful and, at the time of writing this, he dropped a catch in gully that he got two hands to. Admittedly it was a tough chance, but it was one that he would have gobbled a few years ago.

Anything short of a match-saving ton in the second innings, and you'd expect him to be gone by Sydney.

Australia's batting has been out of sorts for a long while. It is an indictment on the top and middle order, for example, that Peter Siddle had the second longest innings at the MCG. Only debutant Cowan lasted longer. Usually in the leaner times, those at the top are supposed to take responsibility, but not so for the Australian team. They would prefer to axe a youngster, because it's a lot easier that way.

Dropping a fallen champion is a tough call, but the longer you support them through their slump, the harder it gets for the selectors to drop them and, by extension, admit they were wrong. Time to bite the bullet and bring in the new generation.