The brilliant, shot-making right-hander has demonstrated a run-machine-like
approach to the game since 2002.
In 2003, Ponting ended the calendar year with a little over 1,500
runs -- hitting three double-centuries, and in the process joining
fellow Australian Sir Donald Bradman as the second only batsman
to hit three 200s in a calendar year.
Bradman did it in one Test series (1930).
And last year (2005), Ponting made 1,544 runs -- moving and rightly
so to the top of the international Test player rankings; he became
the first player to pass 1,500 runs in a calendar year -- twice.
Only I.V.A. Richards (1,710 runs) and S.M. Gavaskar (1,555 runs)
have exceeded what Ponting made last season.
In addition to his stroke-making prowess and prolific form, Ponting
is a breath-taking, dead-eye out-fielder/catcher -- 116 catches
in his 100-Test match career is ample testimony to this factoid.
However, when most cricket analysts discuss prolific run-scorers
and moreso Australians -- Ricky Thomas Ponting has rarely been
mentioned alongside let’s say ... Allan Border and the Waugh
twins.
From my analysis, the present Aussie skipper has time and age
on his side.
His current/present Test aggregate, easily puts him into 10th
position in the all-time highest aggregate in history.
He is the only player to score twin centuries in his 100th Test
appearance, and only Bradman and Steve Waugh have made more Test
hundreds among Australians.
At the One-Day International level, prior to the VB triangular
series (2006) with South Africa and Sri Lanka -- he stood as one
of only six batsmen in history to amass 8,000 runs in both Tests
and ODIs. Ponting has made 28 Test centuries -- 16 in Australia,
putting him again in an elite group who has made as many in home
Tests -- they include: Bradman (18), Hayden (17) and Tendulkar,
Lara, Gavaskar and Greg Chappell -- all with (16).
His international tally (at time of composing his article) of
46 centuries, is bettered by only two players in all history.
Following in his full quota of Test/ODI hundreds and his international
career record.
Test 100s - (28):
127 v E Leeds in 1997
105 v SA Melbourne in 1997/98
104 v WI Bridgetown in 1999
105n.o. v SL Colombo in 1999/2000
197 v P Perth in 1999/2000
125 v I Adelaide in 1999/2000
141 n.o. v I Sydney in 1999/2000
144 v E Leeds in 2001
157n.o. v NZ Hobart in 2001/02
100n.o. v SA Cape Town in 2001/02
141 v P Colombo in 2002/03
150 v P Sharjah in 2002/03
123 v E Brisbane in 2002/03
154 v E Adelaide in 2002/03
117 v WI Georgetown in 2003
206 v WI Q.P. Oval in 2003
113 v WI Bridgetown in 2003
169 v Z Sydney in 2003/04
242 v I Adelaide in 2003/04
257 v I Melbourne in 2003/04
207 v P Sydney in 2005
105 v NZ Auckland in 2005
156 v E Manchester in 2005
149 v WI Brisbane in 2005/06
104n.o. v WI Brisbane in 2005/06
117 v SA Melbourne in 2005/06
120 v SA Sydney in 2006
143n.o. v SA Sydney in 2006
ODI 100s - (18):
123 v SL Melbourne in 1995/96
102 v WI Jaipur in 1995/96
100 v NZ Melbourne in 1997/98
145 v Z Delhi in 1997/98
124n.o. v P Lahore in 1998/99
115 v I Melbourne in 1999/2000
101 v I Vishakhapatnam in 2000/01
102 v E Bristol in 2001
129 v SA Bloemfontein in 2001/02
119 v E Melbourne in 2002/03
106n.o. SL Melbourne in 2002/03
114 v SL Centurion in 2003
140n.o. v I Johannesburg in 2003
101 v B Darwin in 2003
108n.o. v I Bangalore in 2003/04
115 v Asia XI Melbourne in 2005
141n.o. v NZ Napier in 2005
111 v E Lord’s in 2005.
NEXT WEEK: DINESH RAMDIN
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