Profile of Ricky Ponting
One of the most controversial yet successful captains of Australia, Ricky Ponting is finally expected to show up in this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It is the sixth season of the money spinning tournament this year. The franchise Mumbai Indians won the iconic batsman in the auctions that took place on Sunday.
Mumbai Indians got Ponting for a price of $400,000, which amounts to something around Rs. 2.1 crores. Mumbai Indians also got another Australian on their side – Glenn Maxwell for being tagged as one of the rising all-rounders in the game. But, speaking about Ricky Ponting, it will be a great treat to see Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar play for one team.
Let us have a look at Ricky Ponting’s profile in short.
Ricky Ponting is known more as a batsman than as a bowler. Yes, Ricky Ponting has also bowled a bit and has also taken wickets. But not many might know in detail about his bowling than his batting. He is regarded more as a batsman. So, let us start with Ricky Ponting as a batsman.
Ricky Ponting as a batsman
Tests
Ponting has played 168 Test matches in which he got to bat on 287 occasions. Remaining not out on 29 times helped him in giving a push to his batting average. He scored a total of 13,378 runs when he announced his retirement from cricket last year. In terms of runs scored, he is second only to Sachin Tendulkar, the god of cricket from India.
He has an individual highest score of 257 runs in Tests. He has one of the best batting averages in Test cricket which stands at 51.85. In this version of the game, he has scored 41 hundreds and 62 half-centuries. With more interesting details to have a look at, Ponting has hit 1509 fours and 73 sixes in all. His 196 catches might look to be a small number, but he is also one of the greatest fielders cricket has seen.
ODIs (One Day Internationals)
In 375 one day internationals that Ponting played, he batted on 365 occasions. He scored 13,704 runs, being not out on 39 times. His highest score in this version is 164 runs. He scored his runs at an average of 42.03. In this format, he scored 30 centuries and has 82 half-centuries to his credit.
Ponting hit a total of 1231 fours and 162 sixes. In his entire career, Ponting has taken 160 catches. There are many breathtaking catches to his credit as had been one of the best fielders when it came to taking catches. His reflex actions, the ability to estimate where the ball will go and quickness made some difficult catches possible.
T20Is
Ricky Ponting has not played many T20 international matches for Australia. Out of the total 17 that he played, he got to bat in 16 of these matches. With two not out scores to his name, he scored 401 runs in all. He showed his class in this shortest format of the game by scoring 98 not out as his highest individual score.
He had an average of 28.64 in T20Is. With a strike rate of 132.78, he has two half-centuries to his credit. In this short career, he hit 41 fours and 11 maximums, while taking 8 catches.
Ricky Ponting as a bowler
Tests
In Tests, Ponting bowled in 36 innings. While conceding 276 runs, he picked up 5 wickets as well. He was not a full time or a specialist bowler and that is why, there aren’t any five or ten wicket hauls against his name. However, his economy rate was 2.82, strike rate of 117.4, with an average of 55.20.
ODIs
In 375 ODIs, Ponting bowled in 5 innings. He got 3 wickets at the cost of 104 runs in all. Like Tests too, he didn’t have any five wicket haul in this version too. He got these 3 wickets at an average of 34.66, with an economy of 4.16 and had a strike rate of 50.
T20Is
He didn’t bowl in any of his 17 T20I matches.
It will be indeed a great experience having a player like Ricky Ponting in the IPL.
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