Ricky Ponting
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Source: [1], 10 December 2005 |
Ricky Thomas Ponting (Born December 19, 1974, in Launceston, Tasmania) is the present captain of the Australian One-Day and Test cricket teams. He is one of the world's leading batsmen in both forms of the game, as of August 2005 having made over 7,000 runs, played over 90 Tests with the outstanding batting average of 56.00. In one-day international matches, Ponting has made over 8,000 runs at an average of 41.86 with a strike rate of 78. Ponting's nickname is "punter" or "punt".
Unlike many Australian cricketers, Ponting's talents were quickly rewarded with selection, playing for Tasmania at age 17,with his Test debut coming against Sri Lanka in the 1995/96 season at age 20 at Perth where he was out for 96 in his first Test innings to a doubtful lbw decision. After appearing in six Test matches Ponting then lost his place for a time before returning triumphantly to the team against England at Leeds in July 1997 when he scored his first Test century.
Early off-field difficulties, involving him on two occasions getting excessively drunk while on tour, and once becoming involved in a bar fight saw him temporarily dropped from the team in 1999, but aside from an ankle injury in 2000 he has been a permanent fixture in the team, mostly batting in the number 3 position where the best batsman in the team is traditionally played.
With the dropping of Waugh from the one-day team in 2002, Ponting was elevated to the captaincy, ahead of then vice-captain Adam Gilchrist. At the time, this was considered rather surprising by many commentators. He led his team to a dominant performance in the 2003 cricket World Cup which was highlighted by the complete demolition of the undisputed second-best team in the tournament, India, in the final with a brilliant unbeaten 140-run innings. With Waugh's retirement, he assumed the Test captaincy and continued Australia's success in that form of the game, notably whitewashing Sri Lanka 3-0 in Sri Lanka, a rare achievement on the "subcontinent".
First Ashes tour as Captain
In 2005 Ponting got his first major challenge as captain, when the Australian team toured England. After a comprehensive win at Lord's in the first Test, England fought back to win at Edgbaston and Australia were in danger of going 2-1 down at the next Test at Old Trafford. With Australia needing to survive a whole day to achieve a draw, Ponting made a stylish and chanceless 156 - before being out just four overs before the end, but Australia still just held on. Ponting's 156 was the Australians' first Test century of the series, and a welcome return to form for Ponting, who had been dismissed in single figures three times in the series before this innings. At the next (Fourth) Test match at Trent Bridge Ponting was again dismissed for single figures in his first innings and Australia were forced to follow-on. In his second innings Ponting had scored 48 runs off 89 balls in two hours at the crease, but he was then run out by a brilliant throw by a young English substitute fielder Gary Pratt. The “excessive” use of substitute fielders by England in the series had angered Ponting and he saw this dismissal as the final straw. He directed a tirade of abuse at all and sundry for which he was fined 75% of his match fee by the ICC. After England won the match to take a 2-1 lead in the series Ponting returned to the subject of substitutes in an interview with Australian radio "I think it's an absolute disgrace the spirit of the game is being treated like that. It is within the rules; it's just not within the spirit of the game” he said. The England coach Duncan Fletcher later commented on this incident "He [Ponting] completely blew his top. I did not actually think it at the time but, looking back now, that might be the moment when it became clear that England were going to regain the Ashes"
Commentators suggested that Ponting’s anger at Trent Bridge was a sign of his frustration at his team’s inability to match the overall play of a resurgent England team. Commentators almost unanimously commented unfavorably on Ponting’s captaincy compared with that of Michael Vaughan and said that Ponting was clearly frustrated by the fact that he may be going to be the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1985 to fail to defend the Ashes successfully. He also remarked that should Australia fail to retain the Ashes, he would not shoulder the blame entirely, citing the performance of his players. Many saw this as a sign of weakness, that he showed a fear of impending failure to his opponents. England proceeded to draw the Fifth Test at the Oval, and regained the Ashes 2-1.
Ponting's cricketing strengths
Like many Australian batsmen, Ricky Ponting is particularly strong against pace bowling, with the full array of back foot shots, including the pull, hook, and square cut. Early on, he was regarded as a near-compulsive hooker and vulnerable to being caught at fine leg; he has latterly moderated this tendency. He is less effective against spin bowling on flat pitches. In eight Test matches against India in India, Ponting's batting average is 12.28; considerably lower than his career average.
Another habit that Ponting has abandoned in recent years is his seeming distaste for helmets. From his debut until merely a few years ago, Ponting was rarely seen with any headgear on other than his Baggy green cap. Whether this was due to a genuine dislike for helmets or simply bravado is uncertain - in his early days he was no.3 to the erratic opening partnerships of Slater/Taylor and Waugh/Taylor, meaning he was frequently facing fired-up pacemen when he arrived at the crease. But that never seemed to daunt him, at least not so much that he felt the need to wear more protective headgear. However, he does still occasionally abandon his helmet when facing bowling of medium pace or slower.
Ponting occasionally bowls medium pace, and took the prized wicket of England Captain Michael Vaughan in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 2005. He is an outstanding fielder at slip or in the covers, with brilliant reactions and hand/eye coordination. He also has an ability to hit the stumps frequently.
In 2004, Ponting was named Leading Cricketer in the World by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. However, he has never been Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
With the now-large financial rewards of international cricket, Ponting is a full-time professional cricketer. His one well-known off-field interest is betting on horse and greyhound races, as indicated by his nickname, "Punter".
He married his long-time girlfriend, law student Rianna Cantor, in June 2002.
Endorsements
He is seen in a television advertisement for a deodorant and anti-perspirant product (Unilever's Rexona) where he is shown supposedly batting against an overwhelming number of bowlers, and subsequently shows no marks or odor.
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