After almost 20 years at the top, Ricky Ponting is leaving cricket. On behalf of, well myself, I want to say thank you, Punter.
In the years to come, your career will be boiled down to some pretty respectable stats, and your position as the best since Bradman might be cemented or pushed aside.
But being a prolific batsman is only a small part of what Australia has to thank you for.
Thanks for being the kind of sportsperson that Australians could truly admire.
You commanded the respect of your peers and the public – one look at Twitter yesterday afternoon could tell you that.
Thanks for being one of the last remaining traditionalists of the game and not being afraid to stand your ground.
Thanks for being the first one at training and the last one to leave.
No matter how history looks back on you, your dedication and obvious passion for the bat and ball was inspiring to a generation of Aussies.
Thanks for making your pull shot one of the most iconic in the game.
Thanks for having the safest hands in cricket and some of the quickest reflexes I’ve ever seen.
Thanks for letting your emotions show, on and off the pitch. In an age of sporting sanitation, you have been a breath of fresh air. You have been frank and honest in your assessment of games right up until your retirement presser. Don’t ever change.
Thanks for continuing to put everything you could into the sport you love, even when everyone was calling for your head.
Thanks for gracefully allowing Pup to take the reins, but still continuing to act as one of the leaders of the side.
But most of all, thanks Punter for making what I’m sure would have been one of the toughest decisions of your life and taking yourself out of the game you’ve dedicated so much to.
Oh, and thanks for timing your run to coincide with the rise of the Bulls’ Usman Khawaja.
Cricket will not be the same without you.
So long, Punter, and thanks for all the fish (and so few ducks).
k77sujith
Guest
Nice one btn. A true legend and great sportsperson. This is the time to applaud the genius because he truly deserves it. Thanks.
Nate Hornblower
Guest
Border and Chappell were better than Ponting.
Johnno
Guest
I remember way back in 1993 Rod marsh was pushing for Punter to be on the Ashes tour.. A 17 yr old punter. Remember the hype about him. He played for tassie at 16 or 17, and even back then the comparisons with Bradman were there. Interestingly those same comparisons were around for a young Damien Martyn, Bobby simpson the aussy coach at the time said Martyn was the most talented batsmen he'd seen since Bradman, and when he took Deans Jones spot, big controversy but Martyo had been the under 19 captain and had huge wraps, . Punter's career went further despite Maryn coming back so well, winning the 2001 wised cricketer of the year. Punter is a great player right up there as one of the World best batters ever. And right up there as one of aussies best since Bradman. Did Punter ever make runs in India, I don't know , he would of played in 1998 and 2001 tours, . Maybe 1998 or he could of been dropped but defiantly in the 2001 series. Did he make any runs. For me Greg Blewitt and Matt Elliot had the most natural talent out of the aussy golden generation, both didn't reach there ability. In Matt Elliot's defence he had to face all the good fast bowling attacks when he was coming on, where as Hayden was dropped for a lot of those period. Hayden in 1996 made a century on a batting friendly adleide strip vs windies after elliot got injured in 1996/7 , and almost got dropped as the century was so hard fought and so slow and average. And Hayden was dropped for the STH African series in sty africa and elliot had to step up. Kinda blessing in disguise Haydne missed that series, as Elliot and Mark Taylor had to face Donald, with him almost ruining the careers of both Elliot and Taylor as there form dipped big time, Hayden and Slater were not in team and luckily missed out on that top class fast bowling. Greg Blewitt got a double century in that series , him and steve waugh came to the rescue. Hayden didn't play on the 1999 windies tour, a tough series remember Lara's heroics, or on that 196/97 series against Alan Donald in his prime in STH Africa, Elliot had to face the new ball of Donald. Both he and Tubby Taylor struggled. Punter the best since Bradman, well he never had to face the qaulity of attacks AB faced , very often. He was found out in 2005 ASHES series, Flintoff, SImonJones,,Harmison soughted Punter out but they did sort all batters out in that series. Harbijan SIngh in 2001 really gave Punter a working over. In 2010 Chris Tremlett and Jimmy Anderson soughted punter out too on the England tour of Australia ASHES tour, especially big 6'8 Chris Tremlett, Steve Harmison in the 2006 ASHES tour soughted punter out a few times , especially at the WACA, and Hoggard did well vs punter too. For me AB and Steve Waugh, and Bob SImpson, were better but not by much. And Pup may end up better still too early too say. But a great batsmen no doubt about it. Best Ponting innings ever,. Without a doubt his century in the 2011 ODI Quarter final vs India. Massive pressure and Punter stepped up big time, one of the best cricket innings I have seen in any form of the game. Ponting too me is our 3rd greatest ODI batsmen ever a clear standout , in the top 3 the best for mine in the following order. 1)Dean Jones 2)Gilly 3)Ponting Congrats on a great career Ponting, you deserve it.