Ricky Ponting Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Ricky Ponting was born on December 19, 1974, in Launceston, Australia.

Cricket Career

As a teenager, Ricky Ponting was a member of the under-16 Tasmanian cricket team. He practiced with this team often, and in 1994, he made his Test match debut. Throughout the next few years, Ponting’s skills on the field became debated, as in some games he did well and in other games, he couldn’t seem to focus. He later attributed this to problems in his personal life that caused him to be unfocused. However, this didn’t stop him from earning his first Test century in 1997. In 1999, Ricky Ponting also got a taste of victory when his team won the Cricket World Cup.

Ponting’s game improved in the early 2000’s. His team again won the Cricket World Cup in 2003.

In 2004, Ricky Ponting became the captain of the Australia National Cricket Team after the old Test captain, Steve Waugh, retired. The first year of Ponting’s leadership was not great, as he led his team to defeat in the Ashes Series in 2005. However, his skills as a captain improved afterward, and his team had a great season after the Ashes Series. During this season, he earned seven centuries.

In the 2006-2007 season, he helped to lead his team to victory in the Pura Cup. In 2007, he also led his team to another victory in the Cricket World Cup. In the 2007-2008 seasons, he also led his team to victory in the Ford Ranger Cup. However, his team lost the Ashes Series again in 2009. He held the position of captain until 2011.

After his resignation as test captain, Ricky Ponting continued to play as a test player. He retired from this position in 2012 and retired from cricket as a whole in 2013.

During the length of his cricketing career, Ricky Ponting has made several international records, including the record for most international runs by an Australian batsman and most international centuries by an Australian batsman.

Ponting has also broken several Australian cricket records, including the most consecutive test victories won by a captain, most ten runs, most test centuries, most test centuries in a calendar year, most test catches by an Australian fielder, and most test centuries against one team.

Publications

Ricky Ponting not only has a talent for cricket but writing. He has written several memoirs and nonfiction books, mostly about his life as a cricket player. Some of his most famous books are listed below.

Ponting: At The Close of Play

Ashes Diary

The Captain’s Year

Punter: First Tests of a Champion

Ricky Ponting’s Captain's Diary

Awards And Accomplishments

All of Ponting’s awards and accomplishments are due to his cricket career. Some of his most impressive awards are listed below.

Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2003)

Australian Test Player of the Year (2003, 2004, and 2007)

Allan Border Medal (2004, 2006, 2007, and 2009)

International Cricket Council Cricketer of the Year (2006)

International Cricket Council Test Player of the Year (2006 and 2007)

Player of the Decade (2010)

Ricky Ponting was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2012.

Ricky Ponting was inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2015.

Family Life

Ricky Ponting married Rianna Cantor in 2002. Together, this couple has three children: Emmy, Fletcher, and Matisse.