Punter Ponting bows out

Ricky Ponting was a picture of composure, dignity and passion when he announced his retirement earlier this week. The desire was still there—to win and do well for his country—but he felt, like many of his critics, that he wasn’t contributing enough towards the team’s cause, he wasn’t churning out the runs necessary,  and his recent performances were not good enough to warrant a place in the team. Ponting’s teammates would argue his case—they would say he was contributing in so many ways to the team, that he is such a good mentor to the youngsters, and that he has much more left in him. The man who mattered most, Ricky himself, would not buy it. He acknowledged the difficulties he had faced over the past year or so and thanked the selectors and his teammates for their unconditional support.

There was nothing dramatic about Ponting’s announcement. There were no tears, he didn’t choke up, and neither did he reflect on his career, for Ponting knows there is a more pressing matter at hand— the third and final Test against South Africa at the WACA… The battle for No.1… The “Grand Finale” (as he called it). In typical Ponting style, he put the team’s interests first, and just ‘got on with it’.

Ever since I started watching cricket, Ricky Ponting has been one of my favourite cricketers. It was not just his amazing ability with the bat or his fantastic work in the field that struck me, but his passion, his drive and that never-say-die attitude (so typical of all Aussies). He’d be chattering away at slip, silly point or backward point, egging on his bowlers, slyly getting a word into the batsman’s ear, almost willing the ball to come to him. He was so full of energy all the time, and his smile was something you could never miss! His crunching cover drives and pulverising pull shots were enough to terrorize any bowler going around.

Ponting walked into the Australian team when its period of dominance had just begun. After some initial successes he was dropped and made to work his way back into the team. The boy who was dropped returned as a more mature cricketer, one who understood what was required of him, and what it really meant to wear the baggy green—in short, he returned as a man, one who dominated world cricket for almost a decade and a half.

Apart from scoring so prolifically with such consistency, Ponting never seemed to buckle under the pressure. The bigger the stage, the better he played. We Indians will never forget his century in the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg—he smashed us out of contention! In his 100^th Test match he scored centuries in both innings and led Australia to another series win; what better way to celebrate such a huge milestone?! He seemed to revel under pressure; when the opposition thought they had him cornered, he’d counter attack and before you knew it, Australia was on top again!  

As Rahul Dravid said, when Ponting was at his peak, it was almost ‘inevitable’ that he would score runs. He scored more than 1000 Test runs in a calendar year five times. He scored 30 of his 41 (hoping that becomes 42!) Test centuries in a winning cause. And to top that, he is the only cricketer to have won more than 100 Test matches (108, to be precise)!

Ricky Ponting’s record speaks for itself. He retires as the second highest run scorer (in Tests) behind the man who holds almost all batting records, Sachin Tendulkar. He leaves the Test arena as the most successful Australian captain, and as the most capped Australian player, tied with Steve Waugh on 168.

He has been the ultimate fighter, one who never gave an inch. Like he said, he “gave everything to cricket”. One can ask for no more. He retires as one of Australia’s greatest players, (statistically) as their most successful captain, and one of the greatest ‘No. 3’s’ of his generation.

For Australia to find a replacement will be difficult. Australian cricket without Ponting is like Indian cricket without Sachin, rather difficult to imagine! But instead of mourning their loss, I believe we must celebrate his career. Whatever the world thought of him, he is one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, and will always be one of my favourite cricketers. His retirement left me tearing, but just like Punter did, we must get on with it. It’s time to pull out those old videos if one wants to see him in action again. Let’s just hope, for his sake, we get to see him in full flow for one last time!