The high standards set by Ricky Ponting throughout his Test career are hurting the 37-year-old in the public eye, according to Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Ponting is seemingly under the pump with every Test he plays despite a remarkable home series against India where he averaged 108.80 in the four matches and finished up with a double-century in Adelaide in January.

His failure to pass 50 so far in four innings against the West Indies during the ongoing tour of the Caribbean have brought the knives back out, and Clarke says a lot of that has to do with Ponting’s achievement in his 164-Test career.

“The thing with Ricky is he’s set his standards so high,” Clarke said.

“He’s been an amazing player for such a long period of time. People expect him to make 50 or 100 every time he walks out to bat and that’s not the game.”

Clarke says despite Ponting’s advancing years, he remains a vital part of the quest to get Australia back up to No.1 in the world Test rankings.

He feels the Tasmanian is out of luck more than form at the moment after being run out and then bowled off a ball that kept low in the first Test before copping a snorter of a delivery from Windies man of the match Kemar Roach in the second Test in Trinidad.

“I still think he’s playing some really good cricket,” Clarke said.

“I still see him as a big part of this team and I think he’s had a lot of impact on this tour as well.

“He got run out in the first Test in the first innings. He got a ball, when we were trying to push the game forward in the second innings in Barbados, that shot along the ground.

“I don’t need to make excuses for Ricky, I’ve seen him bat for a long time. He’s hitting the ball sweet … hopefully he goes on a makes a big score in the third Test.”