- Batting style:
- Right Handed bat
- Bowling style:
- Right-arm medium
- Played for:
- Australia, ICC World XI, Tasmania, Australia A, Surrey, Young Australia, Kolkata, Mumbai, Somerset, Australian XI, Hobart Hurricanes, Antigua Hawksbills
- Skipper-ODI,T20 | Ex Skipper-Test | Batsman
- At a very young age, Ponting exhibited flair and a will for perfection
which separated him from his peers. He debuted for Tasmania at the age
of 17 and made an immediate impact. After a few consistent performances,
he made his ODI debut for Australia in 1995 against South Africa, where
he showed glimpses of his genius. A freak accident to mainstay Mark
Waugh enabled Ponting to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka where he
fell four short of a maiden Test ton. Quick feet and an ability to pick
the line of the ball early is what made him special over the years. He
has not only been a brilliant fielder but has the added knack of
affecting run-outs. Ponting has been regarded as one of the best players
of the hook and pull shot in the modern game.
The Tasmanian was a part of Steve Waugh’s ‘golden era’ that changed the face of Test cricket. After the sacking of Steve Waugh as ODI captain in 2002, Ponting was called on to lead the team in an away series against South Africa. Australia won comprehensively and he was consequently made ODI captain ahead of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. It proved to be a master stroke as he led Australia to cup honours playing a massive hand in thrashing India in the finals. He repeated the feat in 2007, but was rather unsuccessful in 2011. Ponting then stepped down from the post he held for a long time, paving way for a younger generation to assume the leadership role.
Born: December 19, 1974 (age 38), Launceston, Australia
Height: 1.79 m
Spouse: Rianna Jennifer Cantor (m. 2002)
Children: Emmy Charlotte Ponting, Matisse Ellie Ponting
Awards: Allan Border Medal, Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, More
Current teams: Tasmania cricket team (#14), Hobart Hurricanes, Mumbai Indians (#14 / Batsman)