Ricky Ponting’s ascent of the 10000-run summit was always a possibility because of the nature of his batting. He believes that the best way to bat is by attacking and there has never been any departure from this trusted approach, writes Vijay Lokapally.
It was a bright day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The ambience was majestic and one man in the middle was doing everything to match the festive atmosphere. And he was doing it most effortlessly, sending the ball to all corners of the park. Mind you, it was a huge park and Ricky Ponting was lording over the bowlers as is his wont. At the end of the day he had compiled a double century and left the Indian attack in a daze.
From the time he was identified as the best talent in Australia, this temperamental cricketer has only grown as an entertainer, one who knows his job well, and knows when best to perform. There are few in contemporary cricket who have achieved the kind of stature that Ponting has. He certainly belongs among the elite.
“It is always a challenge to snare him,” admitted Harbhajan Singh, who has more often than not won the battle at the beginning itself. Ponting’s scalp has been a huge prize for bowlers for a decade now because he puts enormous value on his wicket. Most captains feel that to nab Ponting early is nothing short of winning half the battle.
The ascent of the 10,000-run summit was always a possibility because of the nature of his batting. His style allows little room for bowlers to relax. Ponting believes the best way to bat is by attacking and there has never been any respite or departure from this trusted approach.
Notice his gait from the time he picks up his bat and gloves and steps on to the field. He never ambles, like many batsmen, but virtually rushes to the crease, takes guard in a jiffy, throws a cursory glance at the field and coolly plays a cover drive off the first ball. He completes the process by tapping the bat at the opposite end before returning to his crease to continue his job with increased intensity.
Ponting, coming from tranquil Tasmania, is an explosive batsman, someone who has charted his course based on some sound beliefs. Not the perfect batsman, having had his share of worries against the seaming and spinning deliveries, Ponting rarely allows the situation or the opposition to dictate terms to him.
He brings a refreshing combination of the old and the new. There is a place for tradition in the manner in which Ponting builds his innings and there is the arrogance of modern day batsmen who believe that a bad ball is a bad ball at any time of the day. His brilliance at the crease is infectious, for often it motivates his partner to try and emulate Ponting, at the expense of the poor bowlers.
Watching Ponting in full flow can be a feast. Fielders have discovered it the hard way. They have felt something pass by and turned to watch the ball scorch the grass on its way to the boundary. That he is a hard-hitting batsman was so well demonstrated in the World Cup final in 2003 when he lit up The Wanderers in Johannesburg with a knock that flattened the Indians and helped Australia win the title in a comprehensive manner.
Having taken over the mantle from a legend like Steve Waugh, it was clear that Ponting had his task cut out. He had a legacy to follow and he has indeed left his mark on Australian cricket. His brand of leadership has stood out in modern cricket since he backs himself and the team with a fierce determination. He sets examples and new benchmarks for his team and the players too respond with amazing consistency.
In equalling the 16-wins-in-a-row feat by Steve Waugh’s team, it was a strong message that Ponting sent to his detractors. Though he played only in the last Test of that series because of injury, his team also won the last frontier, beating India in India, a territory that Waugh had so badly wanted to add to his conquests. He did surrender the Ashes in 2005, but then won it back with a 5-0 thrashing that left England smarting. It was an emphatic statement that once again confirmed Ponting’s position as one of the finest captains in the game’s history.
At 33, Ponting should be considered a senior statesman of world cricket, a pleasant situation for a man who was once disciplined by the authorities for some off the field misdemeanours.
That he overcame those little aberrations in his behaviour to grow into a legend in his own right speaks volumes of Ponting’s ability and desire to be acknowledged as a match-winner.
Ponting has played a stellar role in helping Australia maintain its supremacy in world cricket. He is the seventh batsman to reach 10000 runs in Tests, and the third Australian after Allan Border and Steve Waugh. “It’s taken 13 years of international cricket to get 10,000 Test runs. Everyone growing up wishes they could do it, but the thing I’m most proud of is my longevity (118 Tests and 298 ODIs) in the game.”
World cricket too is proud of Ricky Ponting, a batsman who brings dignity to his art with a consistency that places him among the all-time best.
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