Ricky Ponting

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Ricky Ponting

---

country = Australia
fullname = Ricky Thomas Ponting
nickname = Punter
living = age 33
dayofbirth = 19
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1974
placeofbirth = Launceston, Tasmania
countryofbirth = Australia
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm = 1.78
batting = Right-hand
bowling = Right-arm medium
role = Batsman, Captain
international = true
testdebutdate = 8 December
testdebutyear = 1995
testdebutagainst = Sri Lanka
testc

lasttestdate = 12 June
lasttestyear = 2008
lasttestagainst = West Indies
odidebutdate = 15 February
odidebutyear = 1995
odidebutagainst = South Africa
odic

lastodidate = 29 June
lastodiyear = 2008
lastodiagainst = West Indies
odishirt = 14
club1 = Tasmania
year1 = 1993 – present
club2 = Somerset
year2 = 2004
club3 = Kolkata Knight Riders
year3 = 2008 – present
deliveries = balls
columns = 4
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 119
runs1 = 10,099
bat avg1 = 58.37
100s/50s1 = 35/40
top score1 = 257
deliveries1 = 527
wickets1 = 5
bowl avg1 = 46.20
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 1/0
catches/stumpings1 = 134/–
column2 = ODIs
matches2 = 301
runs2 = 11,113
bat avg2 = 43.24
100s/50s2 = 26/64
top score2 = 164
deliveries2 = 150
wickets2 = 3
bowl avg2 = 34.66
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 1/12
catches/stumpings2 = 135/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 217
runs3 = 18,837
bat avg3 = 59.99
100s/50s3 = 69/77
top score3 = 257
deliveries3 = 1,422
wickets3 = 14
bowl avg3 = 54.07
fivefor3 = 0
tenfor3 = 0
best bowling3 = 2/10
catches/stumpings3 = 222/–
column4 = List A
matches4 = 372
runs4 = 13,452
bat avg4 = 42.70
100s/50s4 = 30/79
top score4 = 164
deliveries4 = 349
wickets4 = 8
bowl avg4 = 33.62
fivefor4 = 0
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 3/34
catches/stumpings4 = 167/–
date = 11 October
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/2/2229/2229.html CricketArchive

Ricky Thomas Ponting (born 19 December 1974) is a professional Australian cricketer and current captain of the Australian cricket team in One Day International, Twenty20 International and Test cricket. Ponting also represents the Tasmanian Tigers in Australian Domestic cricket, a side he plays for intermittently due to international commitments. He is a specialist right-handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler.

Ponting reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International and Test debuts in 1995 at the age of 20. However, his progress was not unhindered. He lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues, before rising to the One Day International captaincy in early 2002 and becoming Test captain in early 2004. As of July 2008, he is the equal-fourth highest ranked batsman in both One Day International cricket and Test matches in the official ICC ratings.Cite web |work=ICC Player Rankings |title=Top 10 Batsman Test & ODI |url=http://www.lgiccrankings.com/]

Key achievements

Ricky Ponting is considered one of the best batsmen in the history of the modern game, and is ranked 4th; Graeme Smith, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Yousuf are the only ones that lead him in the One-Day International Batting chart and only Kumar Sangakkara, team mate Michael Hussey and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are ahead in the test rankings. [ name="icc"] He is the only cricketer to have twice scored more than 1500 runs in Test matches in a calendar year (2003 and 2005) and on 3 December 2006 overtook Steve Waugh as the leading Australian century maker with 33 Test centuries. He now has 36 and lies second in highest number of Test centuries in the history of cricket, three behind world leader Sachin Tendulkar. He is also the third fastest batsmen ever too reach 10,000 runs in Test matches. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |work=Records Archive |title=Tests|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/1000_RUNS_IN_CALENDAR_YEAR.html] Cite news |title=Ponting alone at the top |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200612/s1802960.htm |publisher=ABC News Online |date=2006-12-03] 1000 Runs in a Calendar Year. matches.Cite news |title=Ponting alone at the top |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200612/s1802960.htm |publisher=ABC News Online |date=2006-12-03] He has scored over 10,000 Test runs at an average near 59, but since the February 2002 tour of South Africa (when he was elevated to the ODI team captaincy) he has scored 24 of his Test centuries and averaged above 74, leading to comparisons with Sir Donald Bradman. [Cite news |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Ponting "greatest since Bradman |date=2006-11-23 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6178896.stm] [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |title=Ponting is "the modern Bradman |date=2006-11-25 |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/269711.html]

Ponting is also Australia's leading ODI run-scorer and century maker. He has the second most test centuries ever, behind only Tendulkar. His century against the West Indies in Jaipur at the 1996 Cricket World Cup made him the youngest ever World Cup centurion, and his unbeaten 140 against India in the 2003 Cricket World Cup final was the highest by a captain in a World Cup final. In 2007 Cricket World Cup match against South Africa at St Kitts, Ponting became the first Australian to reach 10,000 runs in ODI Cricket and the 7th in world cricket to achieve this distinction. He recently reached 10000 test runs against the West Indies in June 2008 and crossed 11000 ODI runs in the Commonwealth Bank series in 2008.

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, but he has lately moderated this tendency. He tends to move across his off stump, and has therefore been regarded as vulnerable to LBW early in his innings. He is less adept against spin bowling, particularly on very helpful spinning pitches such as those in India where his average is just 12.28.

After his first 30 Tests in just under four years his average was 38.62, and after rising into the mid-40s had dipped again to 40.50 after 45 Tests. Since that time his average has consistently risen; his averages in recent calendar years are 70.93 in 2002, 100.20 in 2003, 41.00 in 2004, 67.13 in 2005 and 88.86 in 2006. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |work=Records Archive |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/BY_CALENDAR/2000S/ |title=2000s: Calendar Decade Statistics]

Ponting occasionally bowls medium pace, and has also experimented with off-spin. He is an outstanding fieldsman square of the wicket or at silly point, with fast reactions and hand-eye coordination and (especially in the one-day game) a reputation for hitting the stumps to run out opposition batsmen. A report prepared by Cricinfo in late 2005 showing that since the 1999 Cricket World Cup, he had effected the second highest number of run-outs in ODI cricket of any fieldsman, with the sixth highest success rate.

In a test against West Indies in 2008, Ricky Ponting scored his 10000th run, becoming the third fastest to do so. In October 2008 with another century, he passed Sunil Gavaskar,with his 10,222nd test run. He is the sixth highest run maker of all time.

Career Summary

Early years

Ponting was born in Launceston, Tasmania and attended school at Mowbray Primary and then Brooks High School. He attended the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy from 1992 to 1993.

Ponting played his junior cricket for Mowbray Cricket Club and attracted attention at an early age. Nicknamed "Punter" by Shane Warne for his love of greyhound-racing, he left school at 16 to attend the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide. After impressing head coach Rod Marsh, Ponting made his Sheffield Shield debut at the age of 17, in the 1992/93 season. He was immediately productive, scoring 782 runs at 46 for the season. He was the youngest Tasmanian to score a first-class century, and the youngest to score centuries in each innings of a match on Australian soil. This put him in contention for selection for the 1993 Ashes tour, and despite being overlooked, he continued his heavy scoring in his second domestic season, scoring 965 at 48.25 to propel the Tasmanians into the Shield final. His form the following year in 1994/95 led to his selection in the Australian XI to play in a four-day match against England, as well as selection for Australia A in the ODI tournament.cite book |first=Richard | last= Cashman |title = The A-Z of Australian cricketers |year=1997]

International career begins

Ponting's domestic performances were rewarded when he was selected for the Australian ODI team to play in a quadrangular tournament in New Zealand in early 1995. He played in all of Australia's matches, aggregating 80 runs at 40, highlighted by a 62 against India in Dunedin. He was selected for the subsequent tour of the West Indies, and although he played in two more ODIs, he watched from the dressing room as his teammates reclaimed the Frank Worrell Trophy.cite web |title =Statsguru - RT Ponting - ODIs - Innings by innings list |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=2230;class=odiplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=1992-11-27;start=1992-11-27;enddefault=2006-12-05;end=2006-12-05;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |publisher=Cricinfo.com |accessdate = 2006-12-09]

He made his Test debut in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka in December 1995 at Perth, replacing Greg Blewett although due to Steve Waugh's absence through injury Ponting batted at 5. He was out for 96, lbw to Chaminda Vaas. He combined with Stuart Law, also playing on debut, for a partnership of 121. This was only the ninth ever century partnership by debutants in test cricket.

He also featured that season in the ODI team, and attended the 1996 Cricket World Cup, where he batted in the No.3 position, and became the youngest batsman to score a World Cup century, when he achieved the feat in a group match against the West Indies. [Cite web |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC96/WC96-MATCHES/GROUP-A/AUS_WI_WC96_ODI26_04MAR1996.html |title=Australia v West Indies at Jaipur, 4 Mar 1996 |publisher=Cricinfo.com]

With the retirement of fellow Tasmanian David Boon, Ponting was elevated to the No.3 position in the Test team for the series against the West Indies in 1996-97 in Australia. After two Test matches and three scores under 10, he was replaced by Justin Langer and was out of the team for six months. Returning at Leeds in July 1997 he scored his first Test century (127, batting at No.6) but in 1998-99 again failed to hold his place consistently, being dropped in favour of Darren Lehmann on the tour of Pakistan and again in the home series against England. [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/1997/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T4_24-28JUL1997.html |title=4th TEST: England v Australia at Leeds, 24-28 Jul 1997 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] He had played 22 Tests at the end of 1998, with 1209 runs at an average of 36.63. He was a permanent fixture in the ODI team throughout this period.

Test career consolidates

Ponting was in the squad for the 1999 tour of the West Indies, and scored 104 batting at No.6 when recalled to the starting XI for the 3rd Test. [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/1998-99/AUS_IN_WI/SCORECARDS/AUS_WI_T3_26-30MAR1999.html |title=3rd Test: West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, 26-30 Mar 1999 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] Injury aside (he missed a tour of New Zealand after hurting his ankle in a fielding mishap in an ODI Final at Sydney), his position was now secure in spite of a run of poor form in 2001 - this included 17 runs at an average of 3.4 in three Tests in India, dismissed all five times by Harbhajan Singh. Despite this recent run of poor scores, Ponting was promoted to the key No.3 position in the Australian batting order at the expense of Justin Langer, while Damien Martyn took Ponting's former spot at No.6. Ponting began the series poorly, scoring 11 [Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T1_05-09JUL2001.html |title=1st Test: England v Australia at Birmingham, 5-9 Jul 2001 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] , 14, 4 [Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T2_19-23JUL2001.html |title=2nd Test: England v Australia at Lord's, 19-23 Jul 2001 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] ,14 and 17 [Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T3_02-06AUG2001.html |title=3rd Test: England v Australia at Nottingham, 2-6 Aug 2001 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] - the first four dismissals all to Darren Gough - before returning to form at Leeds, scoring 144 and 72 in a dead-rubber. [Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T4_16-20AUG2001.html |title=4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds, 16-20 Aug 2001 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] Starting with that 2001 Ashes series he has batted No.3 in all but four of his Test innings. Despite his initial failure, Ponting has averaged 68.76 since his promotion, scoring 26 of his 33 centuries (as of March 2007) [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=2230;class=testplayer;filter=advanced;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1995-12-08;start=2001-07-01;enddefault=2007-01-05;end=2007-01-05;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduleddays=0;scheduledovers=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=bat_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |title="Statsguru" filtered Cricinfo statistics between 1 July 2001 and 2 March 2007 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] .

In late 2003, Ponting scored double-centuries in back-to-back Tests against India, at Adelaide (242) and at Melbourne (257, his career high). [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T2_12-16DEC2003.html |title=2nd Test: Australia v India at Adelaide, 12-16 Dec 2003 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T3_26-30DEC2003.html |title=3rd Test: Australia v India at Melbourne, 26-30 Dec 2003 |publisher=Cricinfo.com] Having also scored 206 at Port-of-Spain earlier in the year, he became only the second player (Sir Donald Bradman the other) to hit three double-centuries in a calendar year. [Cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2002-03/AUS_IN_WI/SCORECARDS/AUS_WI_T2_19-23APR2003.html |title=2nd Test: West Indies v Australia at Port-of-Spain, 19-23 Apr 2003 |publisher=Cricinfo.com]

ODI Captaincy

Although the Test team had continued to perform well, sweeping South Africa 3-0 in the home series in 2001-02, the One-Day International (ODI) team suffered a slump, failing to qualify for the finals of the triangular tournament, leading to the dropping of Steve Waugh from the one-day team in February 2002. Ponting was elevated to the captaincy, ahead of then vice-captain Adam Gilchrist. The fortunes of the ODI team revived and Ponting led his team to a dominant, undefeated, performance in the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The Final, in which India were defeated by a record (for World Cup Final matches) 125 runs, featured Ponting's brilliant 140 from 121 balls.

On 12 March 2006, Ponting scored 164 in only 105 balls in the 5th ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg, as Australia made a record total of 434 for 4, only to be beaten by South Africa's 438 for 9.Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/rsavaus/content/story/240507.html |title=South Africa win the greatest match of all |publisher=Cricinfo.com |first=Andrew |last=Miller |date=2006-03-12 |work=The Bulletin] At the end of the match Ponting was jointly awarded Man of the Match with Herschelle Gibbs.

Ponting has captained Australia 169 times in ODIs for 128 wins and two ties. Winning 76% of matches captained, the best of any captain of any country to have captained more than 20 matches. He has captained Australia in 22 World Cup matches without defeat.

Test Captaincy

After Steve Waugh's retirement at the beginning of 2004, Ponting assumed the Test captaincy. Since 1997 the Australian team has not always had the same captain for Tests and for ODIs, with Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh being dropped from the ODI team whilst still the Test captain. Ponting is expected to hold his place in both teams for several years to come.

Following the 2008 Frank Worrell Trophy series against the West Indies, Ponting's captaincy record is 33 wins from 44 matches, a better ratio of success than any previous Australian captain with more than 10 matches captained (Warwick Armstrong won 8 of 10). He is now second (behind Steve Waugh with 41) for total wins by Australian captains. He is seventh for wins amongst all Test captains (record also held by Waugh).

2005 Ashes Series

Australia lost to England 2–1 after starting the series as favourites. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |title=It's Australia all the way |date=2005-07-20 |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/213873.html] Ponting thus became the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986–87 to lose an Ashes series. The 2005 series was hailed as one of the great Test series, but Ponting faced significant criticism afterwards and his tenure as captain was questioned. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |title=The moments that made the memories |first=Andrew |last=Miller |date=2005-09-13 |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/219098.html] [Cite web |title=Lillee calls for Ponting sacking |date=2005-09-14 |author=AFP |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/219173.html |publisher=Cricinfo.com] In his defence, Ponting said that Australia had simply been outplayed and had not stepped up at crucial moments in the matches. He rejected suggestions that Shane Warne should be captain in his stead. [Cite web |author=AFP |title=Ponting defends his position |date=2005-09-14 |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/219241.html |publisher=Cricinfo.com]

The series began with a big win to Australia at Lord's, but in the pre-match warm up before the next Test at Edgbaston, an accidental injury to Glenn McGrath led to his late withdrawal from the match. Ponting sent England in to bat after winning the toss, a decision widely criticised. England posted a big first innings total and won the game by 2 runs after a near-successful run chase by bowlers Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz on the final day. England had the upper hand throughout the third Test at Old Trafford, where Australia needed to bat through the last day to force a draw. Ponting scored 156, the first Australian century of the series, and was dismissed only four overs from the end of the day. In the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, Australia again batted poorly and was forced to follow-on. In the second innings, Ponting (on a score of 48) was run out by the substitute fielder (Gary Pratt). Ponting reacted angrily, directing a tirade at the English support team in the pavilion concerning the liberal use of substitutes; he was later fined by the match referee. Australia went on to lose the match, despite of a spirited fightback with the ball on the last day, and when the weather-affected fifth Test at The Oval was drawn, the Ashes were officially lost.

2006/07 Ashes Series

The setback to Australia, and to Ponting as Australian captain, of the 2005 Ashes defeat, was to prove a strong motivation for the Australian camp to improve their standards and overcome any complacency that may have arisen from Australia's being the world's premier cricketing nation for a decade or so. In November 2006, the England cricket team again took on Australia in the first test of a five test series that was widely expected to be a tremendous contest between Australia, the top team on the world cricket rankings, and the England team, whose aggregated results over the last few years had it standing second in the rankings. Despite Australia this time having the advantage of playing on its own soil, the England team that had wrested the Ashes from the Australians was expected to be highly competitive.

In the First Test in Brisbane, Ponting top-scored in Australia's first innings with 196 runs, and he followed this up with 60 not out in the second.

In the Second Test in Adelaide, Ponting top-scored with 142, and helping Australia to a total of 513 in response to England's 6/551. Australia went on to win the match by six wickets.

The third Test played at the WACA Ground saw another win to Australia by 206 runs to reclaim the Ashes. The 15 months they had been in English hands was the shortest period either nation had held the urn. Further wins in Melbourne and Sydney, made Ponting's team the second team (after Warwick Armstrong's Australian team in 1920-21) to win an Ashes series 5-0, and that against what had been thought to be a formidable enemy, the second strongest cricketing team in the world. Under Ponting's leadership, the Australians have equalled the longest winning streak of 16 games held also by Australia, under the captaincy of Steve Waugh.

Ricky Ponting was awarded Man of the Series for the 2006-07 Ashes series after scoring 576 runs at an average of 82.29 including 2 centuries and 2 half centuries.

Recent Batting Form

Following the England tour, Ponting retained the captaincy and began a rich run of batting form. In the 2005-06 season, he scored a century in both innings of a Test match three times and became the first player to score a century in each innings of his 100th Test match. He is only the second player (after Sunil Gavaskar) to score centuries in both innings of a Test match 3 times and the first to do so in a single season. Across 12 matches in Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh in that season, Ponting scored 1483 runs at an average of 78.05 with 8 centuries. In the first game of the 2007 World cup he made 113 runs against Scotland. He started the 07/08 series well but in the CB series until Australia's last match against India where he and another poor performing Australian batsmen, Andrew Symonds put on a 100 run partnership with Ponting making a hundred and Symonds making 50.

He began the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia with scores of 196 and 60 not out at Brisbane and 142 and 49 at Adelaide. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausveng/engine/match/249222.html |title=1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, Nov 23-27, 2006] [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ausveng/engine/current/match/249223.html |title=2nd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, Dec 1-5, 2006] These two centuries took him past Steve Waugh for the Australian record for Test centuries and raised his career average above 60.. He ended the year with over 1000 runs in a calendar year for the fourth time with a total of 1333 runs at an average of 88.86. [Cite web |title =Statsguru - RT Ponting - Tests - Career Summary|publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=2230;class=testplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;season=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=1995-12-08;start=1995-12-08;enddefault=2007-01-05;end=2007-01-05;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;followon=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=bat_summary;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |accessdate = 2007-03-15] In a match against South Africa, at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Ponting became the seventh batsman to cross 10,000 runs in ODIs and the first Australian to do so. [cite news|url=http://www.cricketworldcuplatest.com/news/australia-captain-ricky-ponting-is-seventh-to-join-11855.html&cid=0|title=Australia Captain Ricky Ponting Is Seventh To Join The 10,000 Run Club In One-Day Cricket History|publisher=Cricket World Cup Latest|date=2007-03-25|accessdate=2007-03-25]

Career Records

Batting Records

* Most Test runs in a calendar year by an Australian: 1,544 in 2005. Ponting has passed 1,000 test runs in a calendar year on four separate occasions, in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
* Most Test centuries in a calendar year by an Australian: 7 in 2006
* Most Test centuries by an Australian: 34
* Most ODI runs by an Australian: 11,594
* Most ODI centuries by an Australian: 26
* Most ODI fifties by an Australian: 63
* Most runs by an Australian in World Cups: 1,537
* Most sixes in a World Cup innings: 8, shared with Imran Nazir and Yuvraj Singh
* Most centuries in World Cups: 4, equal with Mark Waugh, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar
* Most Test runs on Australian soil: surpassing Allan Border during the Third Test in Perth against India, 16-19 Jan 2008.

Captaincy Records

* Most victories as ODI captain: 122
* Highest victory rate as ODI captain in more than 20 matches: 75.74%
* Highest victory rate as Test captain in more than 20 matches: 75.00%
* Most Cricket World Cup victories as captain: 22
* Most Cricket World Cups won as captain: 2, shared with Clive Lloyd
* Most consecutive Test victories won as captain: 16, shared with Steve Waugh

Career Highlights

* 20 November 1992: Ponting makes his First-Class debut for Tasmania against South Australia at the age of 17. He scores an impressive 56 in his first innings. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1992-93/AUS_LOCAL/SS/SOA_TAS_SS_20-23NOV1992.html|title=South Australia v Tasmania at Adelaide, 20-23 Nov 1992]
* 13 December 1992: Ponting makes his List A debut for Tasmania against Victoria at the age of 17. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1992-93/AUS_LOCAL/MMC/SCORECARDS/TAS_VIC_MMC_13DEC1992.html|title=Tasmania v Victoria at Devonport, 13 Dec 1992]
* 15 February 1995: Ponting makes his One Day International debut for Australia against South Africa at the age of 20. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/66018.html|title=1st Match: Australia v South Africa at Wellington, Feb 15 1995]
* 8 December 1995: Ponting makes his Test Match debut for Australia against Sri Lanka at the age of 20. He strikes a fluent 96 to start his Test career in style. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/63706.html|title=1st Test: Australia v Sri Lanka at Perth, Dec 8-11 1995]
* 9 January 1996: Ponting scores his first One Day International century for Australia with a mature 123 off 138 balls against Sri Lanka. Ponting came to the crease with Australia in trouble at 3-33 but assisted them to a respectable total of 213. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1995-96/OD_TOURNEYS/WSC/AUS_SL_WSC_ODI9_09JAN1996.html|title=9th Match: Australia v Sri Lanka at Melbourne, 9 Jan 1996]
* 26 July 1997: Ponting reaches his first Test match century against England at Headingley. This was Ponting's first Ashes innings and his first test innings back from being dropped. [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T4_24-28JUL1997.html|title=4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds, 24-28 Jul 1997]
* 22 March 2002: Ponting captains his first One Day International match for Australia. He has a successful captaincy debut as his team accounted for South Africa by 19 runs at Johannesburg. [cite web|publisher=Cricinfo.com|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001-02/AUS_IN_RSA/SCORECARDS/AUS_RSA_ODI1_22MAR2002.html
title=1st ODI: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, 22 Mar 2002]
*23 March 2003: Ponting captains Australia to their third World Cup title. Ponting won Man of the Match in the final with a supreme unbeaten 140 off 122 balls. Australia went through the whole tournament undefeated, winning each of their 11 games. [cite web|publisher=Cricinfo.com|url=http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC2003/SCORECARDS/FINALS/AUS_IND_WC2003_ODI-FINAL_23MAR2003.html
title=Final: Australia v India at Johannesburg, 23 Mar 2003]
* 8 March 2004: Ponting captains his first Test match for Australia. Just as in his One Day captaincy debut, Ponting led his team to victory, this time over Sri Lanka in Galle. [cite web|publisher=Cricinfo.com|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/AUS_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/AUS_SL_T1_08-12MAR2004.html
title=1st Test: Sri Lanka v Australia at Galle, 8-12 Mar 2004]
* 2 January 2006: Ponting plays his 100th Test for Australia in a match against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Ponting became the 9th Australian to play 100 Test matches, and the first cricketer to ever score centuries in each innings of their 100th Test match with scores of 120 and 143*. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226373.html South Africa in Australia Test Series - 3rd Test] Cricinfo. Retrieved December 16, 2007]
* 28 April, 2007: Ponting captains Australia to their third consecutive, and fourth overall World Cup title. Once again, Ponting led Australia through the tournament undefeated. [cite web|publisher=Cricinfo.com|url=http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/current/match/247507.html
title=ICC World Cup Final: Australia v Sri Lanka]
* 6 January 2008: Ponting captains Australia to a record equalling 16th consecutive Test win in controversial circumstances that prompted the opposing captain, Anil Kumble, to question the spirit in which Ponting's team had played the match. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/329405.html Cricinfo - Kumble questions Australia's spirit ] ] [cite web|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7173647.stm
title=Ponting hails unbelievable win]
* 19 January 2008: Ponting, during the second innings of the Third Test in Perth, became the leading run scorer on Australian soil, surpassing the previous record holder Allan Border's mark of 5,743 set in 86 Tests between 1978 and 1994. [Cite web |publisher=Cricket Australia |url=http://ls.cricket.com.au/HomeFullScorecard43_1097_3.html|title=2007-08 Third Test; Australia v India at Perth, 16-19 Jan 2008] [Cite web |publisher=Cricinfo.com |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=1;id=2;type=host|title=Batting Records - Most Test Runs on Australian Soil]
* 30 May 2008: Ponting scored his 10,000th Test match run against the West Indies at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua. He became the third Australian to reach this milestone after Allan Border and Steve Waugh.

Controversies

* Ponting was involved in a fight outside a pub in Kings Cross, New South Wales in early 1999, and earned a suspension from the national team. He sustained a black eye in the fight. [Cite web |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/80202.html |title=ET News round up: Ponting banned by board (26 January 1999) |publisher=Cricinfo.com]

* During Australia's tour of India in 1998, Ponting was reportedly thrown out of Equinox night club in Calcutta. The Indian papers reported that Ponting was misbehaving with several women in the nightclub. Ponting was fined for this incident, and later apologised to the nightclub staff. [{Cite web |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1931021,00.html |title= Making the pitch |publisher=The Guardian]

* During the 4th Test of the 2005 Ashes series, at Trent Bridge, Ponting was angrily outspoken about the use of substitute fielders by the England side, particularly after being run out by such a substitute. He directed an abusive tirade at the England dressing room and was subsequently fined 75% of his match fee. [Cite news |url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/ashes2005/story/0,,1558495,00.html |title=Ponting apology as captain and Katich are fined |publisher=The Guardian |first=Alex |last=Brown |date=2005-08-29] 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." [Cite news |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/cricket/article2004176.ece |title=Ponting has the steely resolve of a captain in search of redemption |publisher=Independent Online |date=2006-11-22 |first=James |last=Lawton]

* In 2005 he began using cricket bats with a graphite covering over the wooden blade of the bat. This covering was ruled by the MCC to have contravened Law 6.1, which states that bats have to be made of wood, although they may be "covered with material for protection, strengthening or repair not likely to cause unacceptable damage to the ball". Ponting and his bat supplier, Kookaburra Sport, agreed to comply. [Cite news |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Cricket/0,,2-9-839_1882874,00.html |title=Ponting's bat illegal - ICC |publisher=News24.com |date=2006-02-16] [Cite web |url=http://www.kookaburra.biz/kookaburra_special_detail.php?specid=7 |title=Statement from Kookaburra Readers Ltd |publisher=Kookaburra Sport |date=2006-02-16]

* In early 2006 in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, Ponting had an on-field argument with Billy Bowden over signalling a no-ball because not enough players were within the inner circle. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/big-yield-on-odd-regret/2008/01/11/1199988590215.html Big yield on odd regret - Cricket - Sport - theage.com.au ] ] .

* In mid 2006 during a tour of Bangladesh, Ponting was accused of "badgering the umpires until he got what he wanted. He has also been accused of charging at the umpires, which is normally forbidden.

* Ponting has been fined for dissent on more than one occasion. [Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/australia/5340434.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Aussie skipper sorry for dissent |date=2006-09-13]

* After the final of the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, Ponting drew some criticism for appearing to ask BCCI president and Indian politician Sharad Pawar to "leave the podium", while his teammate Damien Martyn pushed him gently in the back, so his team could commence celebrations. The issue, while minor, was solved when Ponting issued a formal apology to Pawar. [cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/iccct2006/content/story/267271.html|title=Pawar yet to get any apology|publisher=Cricinfo.com] [cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/iccct2006/content/story/267353.html|title=Ponting makes peace with Pawar|publisher=Cricinfo.com]

* After the Second Test of the 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ponting and the Australian cricket team were criticised by sections of the media and commentators, being accused of not playing the match in the spirit of the game. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7171843.stm BBC SPORT | Cricket |India fume at Aussies and umpires ] ] [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ausvind/content/current/story/329405.html Cricinfo - Kumble questions Australia's spirit ] ] [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/australians-hypocrites-cry-babies-wasim/2008/01/07/1199554571875.html Australians hypocrites, cry babies: Wasim - Cricket - Sport - smh.com.au ] ] "The Sydney Morning Herald" carried a headline: "Arrogant Ponting must be fired" [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/arrogant-ponting-must-be-fired/2008/01/07/1199554571883.html Arrogant Ponting must be fired - Cricket - Sport - smh.com.au ] ] as well as a scathing critique by journalist and former England player Peter Roebuck who branded Ponting as arrogant and insisted that be stripped of the captaincy. [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/arrogant-ponting-must-be-fired/2008/01/07/1199554571883.html|title=Arrogant Ponting must be fired|work=Sydney Morning Herald|author=Peter Roebuck|date=January 8, 2008|accessdate=2008-01-16] In a blog written for "The Bulletin", former Australian cricket captain Ian Chappell said that Ponting should not be sacked because of his willingness to learn from his mistakes. [cite news|work=The Bulletin (blog)|url=http://www.thebulletinblog.com.au/test_matches_need_umpires_with_authority.htm|title=Test matches need umpires with authority|author=Ian Chappell|date=January 8, 2008|accessdate=2008-01-16]

Endorsements

* Ponting has appeared in promotional advertisements for National Foods's Pura Milk, Rexona, Medibank Private, Victoria Bitter, Valvoline, KFC, Swisse and Weet-Bix.
* In 2007 Ponting signed a deal with India's ING Vysya Bank whereby customers starting an account with the bank went into a draw to win a dinner date with the Australian. [ [http://news.moneycontrol.com/mccode/news/article/news_article.php?autono=304345 Moneycontrol India :: News :: ING Vysya Bank launches Sign to Dine with Ricky Ponting :: ING Vysya Bank :: Press- Market :: ING Vysya Bank,Ricky Ponting,bank,Sign to Dine with Ricky Ponting,Savings Bank,Current Account ] ]
* He was the face of Codemasters's Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2005 and reprised his role for the 2007 version.

Individual Honours

* Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2003

* Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 2006

* Allan Border Medal: 2004, 2006, 2007

* Australian Test Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2007

* Australian ODI Player of the Year: 2002, 2007

* ICC Player of the Year: 2006, 2007

* ICC Captain of the Year: 2007

* ICC Test Player of the Year: 2006

* ICC World Test XI: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

* ICC World ODI XI: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

* Cricket World Cup winner: 1999, 2003, 2007

* Ponting had earned 14 "Man of the Match" awards in 110 Tests; he also has 25 such awards in 285 One-Day Internationals (including the joint award which he had declined from the Johannesburg match).

* Named Vice-Captain in "Australia's" greatest ever ODI team. [Cite web |url= http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/281759.html |title= Steve Waugh Captains greatest XI |publisher=Cricinfo.com |date=2007-02-27]

Personal life

Ricky Ponting is the nephew of Tasmanian Test cricketer and fast bowler Greg Campbell.

With the large financial rewards of international cricket, Ponting is a full-time professional cricketer, although he is involved with Stride Sports, a sports management business which is well-known for managing some of the biggest names in the AFL - including Glenn Archer and Cameron Mooney. A well-known off-field interest of Ponting's is betting on horse and greyhound races, revealed by his nickname, "Punter". Ponting is a talented golfer, playing off a handicap of 1.7. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22909471-5010360,00.html The tall guy is a cricket fan, the other likes golf] The Australian (2007-12-12). Retrieved December 16, 2007]

Ricky married his long-time girlfriend, law student Rianna Jennifer Cantor, in June 2002. He has himself credited her as a reason for the maturity evident in his game in recent years. [Cite news |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |title=Wicket maidens |date=2006-11-19 |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20774424-5006011,00.html] On 26 February 2008, Ponting and his wife Rianna announced that they were expecting their first child. [Cite news |url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=373857&rss=yes3945.html |title=Ponting's wife expecting first child|date=2006-01-20 |publisher=NineMSN] Daughter Emmy Charlotte was born in Sydney, Australia on 26 July 2008.

Ponting is a keen supporter - and number one ticket holder - of the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. [Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Ponting-officially-the-Kangas-No1-fan/2006/01/20/1137553733945.html |title=Ponting officially the Kangas' No.1 fan |date=2006-01-20 |publisher=The Age] On 9 August 2007, Ponting appeared on "The AFL Footy Show" where he talked about his desire to become a Kangaroos board member. [Cite news |url=http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=8fdcabfb-793f-43db-b10e-21c3cb2f7d29&f=39&fg=email|title=Ponting joins the panel to talk footy |date=2007-08-09 |publisher=Ninemsn]

Ricky and wife Rianna have a superstitious liking for the number 14. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/13/1071125708844.html Ricky declares his hand - www.smh.com.au ] ]

Books

Authored or co-authored

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References

External links

* [http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Players/2/2229/2229.html Cricket Archive Player Profile - Ricky Ponting]
* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/7133.html Cricinfo Player Profile : Ricky Thomas Ponting]

Persondata
NAME=Ponting, Ricky Thomas
NICKNAME=Punter
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=December 19, 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH=Launceston, Tasmania
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=