One of the benefits of reporting on cricket matches is the possibility of travelling with some of the greats of the game and witnessing some of their memorable moments. In this vein, to be present during some outstanding times when Ricky Ponting, who is set to retire from the game at the end of the year,as Australia captain was special. On the two occasions when he lifted the World Cup in South Africa and West Indies, I was fortunate to closely perceive his joy and interact with him.
It was a privilege to watch him lead from the front as a captain and play that spectacular 140 against India in Johannesburg to shatter India’s dream of lifting the World Cup. Another highlight was his never-say-die attitude throughout the World Cup in West Indies.Reporting on the Ponting-led Australian victories in the Champions Trophy in 2006 in Mumbai and in 2009 at Centurion were yet more wonderful opportunities to observe this great player in action.
Ponting was at his jovial best at Centurion when, after the press conference, I asked him if there was anything more he wanted to achieve as a player and captain. His reply was: “As long as I wear my country’s baggy green cap, I want to remain a winner.”
For Ponting never addressed the media without the baggy cap. And the moment he dons that, he automatically transforms himself into a different person. Once while in Dubai for the Chevrolet Talk show, a few fans got to closely interact with him. They were shocked to find a modest and calm Ponting, totally different from what they had seen on the field. For them, Ponting was always the aggressive player they saw during a match.
Ponting was never bothered about who his opponents were, and always went for the kill. I was among the few who have witnessed one of his finest knocks in the extreme heat of Sharjah in a Test match in 2002. It was extremely hot that day and there were just 20 people in the stadium, including the media. The man nicknamed ‘Punter’ cracked 150 against the Waqar Younis-led Pakistan.
Years later when I reminded him of that knock, he in return reminded me that it was in Sharjah that he was fined $500 in 1998 during the Coca Cola Cup. With his famous smile, he recalled: “It was my first confrontation with [India bowler] Harbhajan Singh; I got stumped off him, and after dismissing me he was right on my face showing me the finger [to leave the ground]. We verbally clashed and I was fined $500. That was the result of me being over-competitive.”
As he bids to retire from the game he served with such distinction, it is important to remember Ponting as a man who hated to lose and who steered Australia to the pinnacle of the game.
