The Punter from Tasmanian
How often do we see batsmen going on to make century on their 100th test? Well, the answer is only five times and Ricky Ponting today became only the sixth player after some former greats such as Colin Cowdrey, Gordon Greenidge, Javed Mianded, Inzamam Ul Haq and Alec Stewart to have achieved this feat.
Coming at a precarious situation of 54/3 at the start of the day’s play one would have expected Ricky Ponting to be watchful. Instead what the crowd got was an absolute display on dominance and immense character shown by this Tasmanian who ripped the Proteas attack and cut, pulled them at will and the crowd only asked for more. Just half an hour before tea Ricky hit an on side push and stole a single from a misfielding and then sprinted to take the second single and then lifted his helmet and his bat and gazed at the Members end.
One can still remember this young teenager who was unluckily given out on 97 during his debut test and was taken into the 1997 ashes in England and who can forget his 127 that he scored under trying circumstances and what was to become one of his all time favorite innings till date.
With shots all round the wicket and in book, this balding Aussie captain has shown the aussie grit and charisma to reach where he is today!
I am still to come to terms with the innings in the 2003 world cup final against India ( 140 not out) which shut the Indians off from laying their hands on the trophy. He has had his share of bad mouthing too from the media and the public. A few years this Punter had admitted to have had a drinking problem and last year saw Australia losing Ashes to England for the first time since 1987 when England won it under Mike Gatting’s captaincy.
HE BELONGS TO THE LEGACY OF AUSTRALIAN CAPTAINS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR BEST UNDER TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES AND ON HIS 100TH TEST I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST AND MAY THE BEST OF THE RECORDS BE BROKEN BY THIS GRITTY AUSSIE……………..
WHAT SAY MATE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THIS AWESOME STATS SHOWN BELOW:---------
Personal Statistics
FULL NAME- RICKY THOMAS PONTING
DATE OF BIRTH- DECEMBER 19, 1974, LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA
CURRENT AGE- 31 YEARS, 16 DAYS
MAJOR TEAMS- AUSTRALIA, ICC WORLD XI, SOMERSET, TASMANIA
BATTING STYLE- RIGHT HANDED
BOWLING STYLE- RIGHT ARM MEDIUM
HEIGHT- 1.78 M
EDUCATION- MOWBRAY PRIMARY, BROOKS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, LAUNCESTON.
BATTING – TEST MATCHES
DEBUT- AUSTRALIA VS SRI LANKA- DEC 8-11, 1995
MATCHES- 100
RUNS- 8010
HS- 257
AVERAGE- 56.26
100’S- 27
50’S- 32
CATCHES- 115
ONE DAY CRICKET
MATCHES- 238
INNINGS- 232
NOT OUT- 28
HIGHEST SCORE- 145
AVERAGE- 42.22
HUNDREDS- 18
HALF CENTURIES- 49