All hail Ricky Ponting, the boy from Mowbray

In one sudden outpouring, Ricky Ponting sealed a legend, showed his soft side and respect for the game that some underestimated. He rejected a hometown farewell against a docile Sri Lankan attack in Hobart for a final clash against South Africa’s champion attack on a hostile Perth track. The 37-year-old would exit on the ground he debuted against Sri Lanka 17 years ago in a winner-takes-all showdown for the No 1 ranking.

Stepping out in Hobart would have seen Ponting eclipse predecessor Steve Waugh’s record for most Test appearances; instead, he will share that 168-Test achievement. Australian skipper Michael Clarke ranks “greatness with longevity”  — Waugh from Sydney’s tough western suburbs and Ponting from working-class Mowbray fit the bill.

The overriding feature in Ponting’s make-up — besides an unflinching love for the contest — is his honesty. This was never more evident than in his retirement announcement where Ponting conceded there could be no regrets as he wasn’t good enough to flay the best in the world as he once did for fun. “In this series, so far my results have not been up to the level required of batsmen and players in the Australian team,” said Ponting.

“I’m glad I have got the opportunity to finish on my terms. I want this win more than any other game I have played in. When you have come to the realisation that what you can give is probably not good enough then it is a pretty easy decision.”

Ponting said his “passion and love for the game” hadn’t waned as illustrated by his devotion to fulfill domestic commitments with Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes. However the four-time Allan Border medallist’s international output had dipped noticeably.
Ponting averaged 34 over the past two years, marginally worse than the man he trails as the game’s greatest run-scorer Sachin Tendulkar, who has averaged 39. An Indian summer averaging 108 against MS Dhoni’s men in 2011-12 highlighted Ponting’s decline against quality pace bowling. Ponting averaged over 35 in just two of the past eight series — both against India.

A series aggregate of 20 from three innings and the first innings dismissal that saw Ponting end on all fours against Jacques Kallis in Adelaide was unbecoming of a bonafide talisman. Ponting was previously bowled both innings in his fourth Test against India in New Delhi.

This blue collar boy wasn’t going to wait for the tap on the shoulder that India’s selectors are too scared to extend to fading marvel Tendulkar. “I’ve given cricket my all. It has been my life for 20 years, there’s not much more I can give,” Ponting said.
Adam Gilchrist recalled how one dropped catch against India in Adelaide four years ago convinced his to end his 96-Test career. Now Ponting was confronting his cricket mortality. “His is the only mind that needed to be satisfied,” Gilchrist said.

Crowds in England and the sub-continent have given Ponting a hard time as Australia’s dominance waned in recent years, while Gilchrist uncomfortably watched Ponting come under fire at home in the wake of a 1-3 Ashes loss to England. “In recent, times there seemed to be bit of a public perception that Ricky was a bit disgruntled, sour, but I hope he will be remembered for the entertainment and commitment he provided,” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist can only recall Ponting letting his emotional guard down once and the former skipper did a second time as his lips quivered in front of journalists on Thursday. The tears had already flowed as Ponting told the Australian ensemble of his decision at the team’s Perth hotel. This was a very different persona to the hard-nosed competitor and most successful Australian skipper of all time with 48 wins.

“They had never seen me emotional before,” noted Ponting.  It was too much for successor Michael Clarke who broke down when asked if he saw his predecessor’s decision coming. “Ricky spoke to me after the Adelaide Test match, yeah and made his decision over the last little while, last few days and the boys are obviously hurting at the moment,” said Clarke. “He’s been an amazing player for a long time ... and that’ll do me for today. Sorry, I can’t answer...”

Dual ICC Player of the Year Ponting has a catalogue of highlights in addition to a 13,366 Test tally at 52 and 13,704 runs at 42 in 375 ODIs. Ponting led Australia to the 2003 and 2007 World Cups and was an integral part of Australia’s domination of world cricket until 2005 when his side lost the Ashes to England.

While Ponting featured alongside golden names including Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Waugh, he will save the reminiscing until after the match that decides whether he retires part of another No 1-ranked unit.

“I could sit here all day and I could reflect on my career and the great teams I played in, the great players I played with, the great players I played against, but I honestly believe that is for another day and another time at the end of this game,” Ponting said. “My immediate focus and the team’s immediate focus is what we’re presented with and that is an unbelievable opportunity.”

Ponting is destined to return to the game he cherishes and that drove him to pursue a hard-core fitness kick through a bitterly cold Tasmanian winter.

The game will be diminished without Ponting, notes Clarke. “His dedication to the game of cricket is unbelievable. He loves the game as much as anyone I’ve played with. To me Ricky’s as much Mr Cricket as Mike Hussey,” said Clarke. “Cricket will be the poorer if Ricky does not stay involved somehow. Cricket Australia must do everything in their power to keep him involved for as long as we can.”
 

—The writer is an Adelaide-based cricket correspondent with the Courier Mail