Ricky Ponting by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

RT Ponting

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DateLine: 26th May 2009

 

Ricky Ponting began his Australia career with a fluent 96 on Test debut and there was no stopping him after that. Ponting saw off competition from Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to succeed Steve Waugh as Australia's one-day leader early in 2002. He led the successful World Cup campaigns in 2003 and 2004, the 2003 World Cup final being more memorable as he played a breath-taking innings of 140 to clinically dismantle the Indian bowling attack. On September 12, 2005, Ponting became the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to taste defeat in an Ashes series. The result hurt and the pain lingered throughout the next summer, but he regrouped to start an amazing streak of 20 wins in 21 Tests, including the 5-0 demolition of England to regain the prized urn in the most emphatic way.