140, 110,230, 220 memorable scores in the WC finals and in
the back to back Test matches against India. Yes, that’s out the famous gesture
during the Sydney Test 2008. Blood flow from the face in the 2005 Ashes series.
Dissent, and heated argument with Aleem Dar when he realized that the match
& the Ashes is flying away, the2010 Ashe.His reserved spats with Harbhajan
& Zaheer. Why I don’t’ know but all
these events comes in mind when I think about Ricky Ponting. If there is any
player who performed brilliantly through out his career but still remembered
for all the wrong reasons that had to be Ricky Ponting.
But despite all these
odds Ricky Ponting was a batsman of his own class. Most of his innings
contributed towards the team’s success. Under the reach talent & lethal performers
he prevailed as a leader & carried the onus of staying at the top from
where Steve Waugh had handed over him the throne. Member of three WC winning
team out of which he captained in the two. Lost three Ashes series but
succeeded the most difficult task of winning the Test-series in India. That brutal
innings in the WC finals 2003 against India, match saving innings of 150 + runs
in the third Ashes Test 2005.
His batting was characterized by the cover drive on the
front foot (even on the delivery short of a good length) & the hook with complementary
pull as strong as the Australian beer. His stance in the crease & approach
at the time of bowler’s delivery was like a Scorpio ready for the sting. Most
of his hundreds in the Test matches were above 130 . Like most of the other
Australians he was unaware (!) of the spirit of the game with the perception
that Cricket is a “Punterman’s
game.”
Through out his career he played more controversy than his
favourite hook & pull shots, broke more glasses of dressing room than the
records, hated Harbhajan more than his enemy. His aggressive approach &
behavior against India & England gave tasteful topics to media… A real
“Bad-Man” of cricketing field decided to go off line. I thought he would play a
good innings on Perth against S. Africa in his last stay on the 22- yard strip,
but… it didn’t happen. Don’t’ know about the others but India would be more
relived to see that Punter is retired.
