The PlanetCricket View: Ricky Ponting?s final first-class innings

[PlanetCricket]

Article by baggy_blogger -

Ricky Ponting is my cricketing hero and this morning I am so proud of The Maestro.

His first-class career is officially over and that ends what has been a true Australian journey with so much history to speak of. And what a way it has been brought to an end. A Sheffield Shield win with the Tasmanian Tigers, top run scorer in the 2012/13 Shield contest, and now 169* runs for Surrey in his final dig at The Oval, a ground where he wasa part of various Ashes conclusions.

Best of all is he was unbeaten at the crease. Saw some highlights last night on Fox Sport and it was an innings I wish I could have watched live. We did get the Ashton Agar show last night though.

Thank you Punter for all the memories and your commitment to this great game of ours. Pure class, true determination.

Statistics:

Test cricket: 168 matches, 287 innings, 13,378 runs, Avg 51.85, HS 257, 41 (100s), 62 (50s), 196 catches
ODI cricket: 375 matches, 365 innings, 13,704 runs, HS 164, Avg 42.04, 30 (100s), 82 (50s), 160 catches
First-class cricket: 289 matches, 494 innings, 24,150 runs, HS 257, Avg 55.90,82 (100s), 106 (50s), 309 catches.

“As much as I enjoy it (first-class cricket), I need to look after in my personal life now. It’s been nearly 21 years that I’ve played and a lot of that time has been away from home. I’ve got a young family and it will be nice to just live a life as a father.“

Punter’s autobiography is set for release in October, which should be a brilliant read. I have read his Captains Diaries which provided a fair share of insight into his younger days, but this will be the ultimate book of the Tasmanian maestro.

You will also be able to hear him commentate in the 2013 Big Bash League, this year broadcast by Channel 10.

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[Cricketman]

Man, how much I wish Ponting would come back into the Australian XI for this last series. Would love to see it! We can only dream at this point.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Miss the greatest cricketer of this era!For me Ponting is the greatest cricketer of this era!!

 

[cricket_icon]

My favourite batsman, a shrewd, at times unlikable captain and a tough, unbending negotiator. What Australia wouldn't give for some of that now. Have a great life Punter

 

[War]

Like Hayden in 2008, i think the dumb media forced Ponting out. Ever since Kemar Roach broke Ponting's hand in 2009, ever innings he has played the media were asking "is this your last test?".

Even after he had that superb series vs India 2011/12, a few bad tests vs Windies & the knives were out a again. Ponting was the leading shield run scorer this season in Australia & i personally think he probably got fed up with the pressure the media @ international level was putting on him.

The media narrative too often was one of pressure instead of encouragement to come good en route to the current Ashes. And after almost 20 years at the top Ponting probably felt he had nothing more to prove & called it a day.

His final first-class innings tells me that he still could have been a force in the Ashes right now.

 

[sifter132]

^Agree with you wholeheartedly

2010/11 Ashes was when I first noticed Ponting was trying SO hard, you could see it in his batting which was positively hyperactive, and he was training the house down. He just felt so much pressure to get back his magic, a lot of that pressure from the media. No coincidence that when he stepped away from the spotlight he started doing well for Tassie. And what do you know? Back in the spotlight for Mumbai, he seized up again.

 

[War]

Indeed man. Media pressure is something that can't be ignored especially when a player gets older. Mentally as they get older i've noticed it tells on players.

the cricinfo aussies, smh.com.au, abc.net.au, heraldsun, foxsports, the age AUS reporters all of collectively buried Ponting with such articles especially after the 2010/11 Ashes.