Greatest Captains
Ricky Ponting
By: Vipul Yadav
ervipulyadav@yahoo.co.in
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Preface
In search of motivation we always look at personalities in the field of business, sports and movies. We always tend to skip or ignore their early life struggles and incidents that made the person in life what they are right now. When you look for the greatest and finest leaders in sports especially in cricket you must not miss Ricky Ponting the man who epitomized Australian Cricket, still ruling world cricket at large. I have made an effort to study and represent the life of Ricky Ponting, one of the giants in the world of cricket. The life and times of Ricky Ponting can not be summed up in few pages but this book goes through Ricky Ponting’s early life incidents, career up and downs,his achievements, controversies on and off the field and social life. During the process I have discovered many stories within the story still needed to be researched upon!
Essence of story described here is:
‘Ricky tells you; set your goals and work
towards achieving it…no ifs and buts.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Early life & Domestic Career
International Cricket Ascend
In Test Matches
In One Day Internationals
Captaincy & back to back world cup success
Major Records
The controversial Punter
Post Captaincy, Retirement & Social Presence
Final Note
1 - Introduction
Ricky Ponting,-The Tasmanian; honoured with The Australian Order (AO), a distinctive always on your face attitude, is undisputedly the one of the best leader in the world of cricket. He is regarded the greatest batsman of 21st century who lead Australia to two successive World Cup victories & presided over the invincible Australian Team of golden era comprising of the No1es players in bowling,batting and fielding. Snarling and abrasive, he never took a backward step especially against England. Ruthless the term defines this man who always gave his best to the game of cricket.
2 - Early life & Domestic Career
Ricky Thomas Ponting was born in Launceston, Tasmania on 19th December 1974. He is eldest son of Greame and Lorraine Ponting’s four children. Greame was decent club cricketer and also part of Australian Rules football; while Lorraine, mother, was state Vigoro Champion- a game that sort of combines cricket and tennis. Ricky’s uncle Greg Campbell played in Tests for Australia in 1989-90, the connection that drew Ricky towards game of cricket. In January 1986 he took part in five-day annual North Tasmanian junior cricket competition for Mowbray under13 team at the age of 11. Ricky was destined for big things, he scored four centuries in that week, led him being awarded bat sponsorship by Kookaburra! He continued his century scoring streak to Under16 week long competition where he scored century on final day as well. Apart from his cricket heroics in early life he was also a good football player and part of North Melbourne Kangaroos. He could have gone on to make career in football had he not broken his humerus in right arm, putting rest on his football aspirations.
Ricky’s Australian domestic career started when he helped to run scoreboard on Northern Tasmanian Cricket Ground. In 1990 worked as groundsman at Scotch Oakburn College stadium. In 1991 he did fortnight training in cricket at Australian Institute of Sports in Adelaide sponsored by Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association, which turned into full time two year sponsorship as the academy coach Rod Marsh found Ricky happened to be best in the age group of 17.
Ponting made his entry as a youngest player for the Tasmania in a Sheffield shield match scoring 114 against Riverside club breaking Boon’s record by 14 days. He continued to show his batting powers against South Australia, New South Wales & Western Australia. He had competition, virtually, with David Boon; as a Tasmanian, by scoring a first class century at 18 years and 40 days eclipsing Boon’s record of 19 yrs and 356 days. Ponting scored back to back centuries against Western Australia on fastest wicket on earth, at Perth becoming youngest batsman in shield history for such feat. Due to this tremendous display speculations were rife that he could play for Australia against England in 1993 but instead Damien Martyn got selected. However he continued to attract attention from the selectors and greats like Allan Border, Sir Donald Bradman & David Boon following his heroics in domestic season.
3 - International Cricket Ascend
Finally, Ponting made his international debut for Australia in One Day Internationals in 1995 in New Zealand Centenary quadrangular tournament that also included South Africa and India. His first match was against South Africa and had to score just one run to achieve win. His first highest score was against India 62 in 92 balls but lost to India; though Australia entered the finals. He was in and out from ODI side due to the very fact that Australian side was quite settled. A decline in David Boon’s form helped him to get into the team once again. In between he continued to feature in Tasmanian cricket team and played against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. He fared well against Sri Lanka in ODIs in particular; earned him place in the Test side and made first appearance for Australia in Tests against Sri Lanka at Perth on 8th December 1995, scored 96. His performance in the match was overshadowed by the Muttiah Murlitharan and Umpire Darrell Hair incident.
4 - In Test Matches
At the start of his career Ponting’s performances in Asian sub continent remained awful, although when Australia travelled to Sri Lanka in 1999 he managed to put up good show against one of the best bowler in the world, Murlitharan; but could not prevent Australia losing to Sri Lanka by 1-0. His poor form continued in India where he was dismissed five times to the same off spin bowler Harbhajan Singh in the series they lost to India in 2000. But on the brighter side, Australia won one of the test matches in Bangalore in 29 years. After this disastrous performance he was dropped specially on Indian sub continental tours; however he did played against Pakistan in Peshawar scoring 76 & 43 as Darren Lehman was unavailable due to injuries. By the end of 1998 Ponting played only 22 tests with average of 36.63, a below par performance. When Mark Taylor ended his international career in 1999, Ponting’s ability against pace bowling helped his push for inclusion in Test side against West Indies. Eventually getting a chance in third test he scored 104 in partnership with Steve Waugh on a flat pitch against one of the fiery spells of Ambrose bowling. Waugh termed Ponting’s innings as matured one-as a champion of the game. Despite this West Indies gone on to win that match with the help of Brian Lara century that went to history book for records. In the Ashes series (his first appearance) of 2001 Ponting was promoted to bat at no 3, the position he held till the very last innings of his career. Despite batting at no 3 his scores were in single digits apart only century in the tour. In Ashes of 2002-2003 England toured Australia where Ponting scored four centuries in five tests with an average of 52.12, the main contributor in winning the series. In 2003 on tour of West Indies he was made one off test captain, the game where is scored first double ton (206), saw Australia winning Frank-Worell Trophy 3-0. He continued this batting form against touring India in 2003-2004 where Ricky scored back to back double hundreds in back to back test matches. By the end of that year he became only player to score three double centuries in a calendar year after Sir Donald Bradman. He ended 2003 with 706 runs at average of 100.85. Ricky Ponting was made captain of the Test side in 2004 at the expense of Steve Waugh. Under him Australia won series against Sri Lanka, India (a first since 1969-70 in India), Pakistan and New Zealand. However his Ashes record is the worst in Australian Cricket history as he is the only captain who lost three Ashes series but argument remains that The Aussies were in transition during those losses.
5 - In ODI Matches
Ricky Ponting played his first ODI against South Africa in 1995. Scored his first century against Sri Lanka at MCG, the game Australia lost. Ponting batted at no 3 position in ODIs especially in the world cup of 1996 but did not do well. As his career progressed in ODIs his batting form improved and started scoring at an average of 51.88. Sooner than later he became permanent fixture in Australian side after his performances against India, Sri Lanka and England; making a hefty contribution to win home and away series. Ponting tasted his first world cup success in 1999 under the captaincy of Steve Waugh. He played one of his career defining inning with Steve Waugh against South Africa in group stages that helped to advance Australia further in the tournament and eventually winning the World Cup of 1999. He carried forward this consistency in future series played back home. Once Steve Waugh made to resign as captain of ODI team; Ricky Ponting, was assigned the task to lead the team in 2002, immediately winning series against South Africa one of their bitterest rival.
6 - Captaincy & back to back World Cup Success
Once Ricky Ponting given captaincy to lead Australia in Tests and ODIs, he never looked backwards. Although there is always argument that he had best in class batsmen, bowlers to lead but to manage them and lead as pack is always a tough ask. His captaincy showed us what he is made all about. Used every tactics available to strangle the opponents on the ground be it fielding, sledging,batting, bowling; with only one motto ‘play to win only’. Throughout his captaincy, Ponting always set clear goals for the team to achieve and laid out how it was to get there. He took ownership of the goals he set and openly communicated them to the media and within the team.
A few days before the start of 2003 World Cup, Australian team was in turmoil as Michael Bevan was injured, Lehman was handed a seven match ban for racial abuse, Shane Watson pulled out due to personal reasons and to top that up Shane Warne was kicked out from the tournament on the basis of drug use. In all these Ponting brought in Andrew Symonds as an all-rounder, the move that every one opposed. But as tournament progressed Symonds repaid the faith to Ricky Ponting; by being useful in all three departments of the game. Ricky Ponting himself was on-off throughout the group stages games but picked up form as Australia made it to final against India. He scored 140 not out as Australia piled up 359/2 that India didn’t manage and Australia Winning World Cup of 2003 at Wanderers in South Africa, first one under Ricky Ponting.
Prior to 2007 World Cup, Australia now had become a dominant force in all part of the world be it home soil or foreign soil winning ODIs and Tests under the captaincy of Ricky. They were the favorite to win the trophy and did it in style surpassing, crushing all teams ruthlessly in West Indies to lift the World Cup Trophy for third time in succession. Second in raw for Ricky Ponting being captain.
In 2011 World Cup, Ponting retained captaincy despite his lackluster performance as a batsman and captain. Australia entered as favorites to win again. But India defeated them in the quarter final thus ending the World Cup winning streak of Australia and ending Ricky Ponting’s career as a captain from both Tests and ODIs but remained available to play in the game as a batsman suggesting Michael Clark as a successor.
7 - Major Records
As a Batsman & Captain Ricky Ponting holds following;
Most international runs by an Australian Batsman in combination of Test and ODI and T20 international at 27,777
71 centuries , most by an Australian Batsman
Second most Test victories as captain 48
Most consecutive Test Victories 16 shared with Steve Waugh
Most test runs by an Australian in Tests 13,346 runs overtook Allan Borders’ 11,174
He's only batsman in the history of cricket to score both centuries in his 100th test match - achieved against South Africa in 2005 scoring 120 and 143*
Most Double Centuries against one team: 3 against India 257, 242 and 221
Most Test centuries against one team: 8 against India
Most runs in a calendar decade, 9103 in ODIs and9458 in tests in 2000s.
Most victories as ODI captain: 165
Second-most victories as Test captain: 45
Undefeated as Captain in World Cups (35 matches)
Most consecutive Ashes defeats in England: 3, shared with Billy Murdoch
8 - The Controversial Punter
Ricky Ponting was never far from being involved in controversies. Mainly involving India, England, Sri Lanka and many times with own team mates.
During 1998-1999 Carlton & United series against England, he was involved in a fight outside a pub in New South Wales, sustained injuries on left eye, earned three match suspension. Forced to front a media conference with black eye, Ponting admitted he had a problem with alcohol and sought external help to attend to this problem.
Ricky Ponting had always verbal duel with Harbhajan Singh on the field. One such incident was in Sharjah 1998-1999 where both players were fined by ICC. In other incident, he was involved in pub brawl in Kolkata in 2000, later he apologized for the conduct.
In 2006 ICC Champions trophy, Australia’s first ever trophy win, he was once again involved in an onstage celebration incident with happened to be ICC president.
Again in 2007-2008 in one of the hard fought game at Sydney Cricket Ground with India, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds came under attack by media house and other prominent cricketers alike terming him and his team as arrogant and racist. The incident even went up to the ICC court to sort things out between Indian team and Australian team.
9 - Post Captaincy, Retirement and Social Presence
Once out of captain’s job Ricky’s career took downturn as a batsman. However in 2011 Ponting was inducted into Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) ‘Best of the Best’. He continued his contribution in the series against India but calls to remove from the team grew after his failures in summer of 2011-12. In the event of Michael Clark’s injury he was once again asked to lead side in 2011-12 Commonwealth Bank Series but he was dropped after scoring 18 runs in five games. Henceforth, Ricky Ponting decided to end his one day international career but showed willingness to play in Tests. Eventually he decided to end his Test career in November 2012 at WACA against South Africa.
After retiring from International arena, he is very much active on the domestic cricket around the world like Indian Premier League;currently coach of Mumbai Indian and providing his services in Caribbean Premier League. Other assignment includes commentator and sport analyst for various media houses. On personal front he enjoys being proud father of three children Emmy Charlotte, Matisse Elle and Fletcher Williams with wife Rianna Jennifer Cantor (pursuing law). He had also penned down his autobiography “At the close of play”.
Social cause is major priority after cricket for The Pontings. Ricky and Rianna established Ponting Foundation with the aim of raising substantial money for the benefit of young Australians affected with cancer and their families. They have come up with largest annual fundraiser, The Biggest Game of Cricket, where the game can be played all across Australia be it in backyards, on beaches, on roads or on cricket fields during December and January each year and the money collected through these games directly adds in to the funds of Ponting Foundation.
10 - Final Note
A leader by example, (Punter- as nick named) Ricky Ponting is the brightest thing to happen to the cricket world; epitomized Australian Cricket. At the start of his career where he was looking to enter on the world stage never bogged down by competition around,or lack of consistency with his own form. He thrived on those situations and made a legend out of himself. A marvelously gifted batsman and a highly successful captain, his unwavering commitment to doing things his way made public either love him or hate him. What you saw with Ponting is exactly what you got. No ifs or buts.
