Back in the day he was a great batsman to watch but he did delay this retirement far too long. Hope he end on a high with a ton

Sachin should take note but I think he is eying an amazing 200 tests (selfishly)

I can understand how the opposition fans might think Ponting was petulant.
But I really do think it was his confidence of always trying to win that shone through as petulant actually.
Regardless of what people thought of Ponting he will always be in the record books above a hell of a lot of very good cricketers....

Cheers Ricky....thanks for the memories..

"Well since the introduction of high definition and frame by frame slow motion cameras, plus of course the referral system, it's been impossible for me to play my normal cheating game. So i'm jacking it in mate"

Wonderful player who brought entertainment and style to the game. Such a great batsman to watch in full flow, few better in my opinion. Seems we're reaching a point in the sport where we're losing a couple of greats from our generation. Good luck Ricky, shame we won't see you here in the summer.

Agreed Bearded! I wonder who are going to inspire future generations? I really did think KP was going to chuck it all in a couple of months ago. Cook's a great player for me also but inspirational? Maybe not. Where's the Gooch's, the Gower's, the Ian Botham's who brought the entertainment factor in?

There will always be players to inspire the next generation, that's the beauty of sport as one passes another arrives. Cook may not be termed as inspirational through entertaining runs, but he inspires young guys to go out and fill their boots, Cook has that "you never have enough attitude" that inspires people. However in saying that in losing a player like Ponting is very hard to replace.

The next crop is the likes of Cook, Amla and Clarke. Players who score runs in all conditions and are forever improving their averages and getting better and better.

In the next few years we will see the likes of Sachin, Kallis, Khan, Sanga, Mahela J call it a day from test cricket but there is plenty from the new crop to entertain.

...but INSPIRATIONAL kash? Not so sure there is anyone around (certainly from England) who fits that bill. Apart, as I say, Pietersen. Have watched test cricket for around 35 years now and quite honestly say theres not that generation of players that i look at and say ' i love watching him play'. Not like the 80's as i say with the likes of Botham, Gower, Richards, Kapil Dev, Hadlee, etc. Or even later with the likes of Kallis, Flintoff, i kinda could go on and on but its just not as much FUN anymore, even though the games are getting tighter and the teams closer in terms of ability. Kinda accounts for my lack of presence on these boards because generally I am kinda bored! OMG am sounding like Mafia boy now!

Anyway, back to Ponting....

Brilliant article on Ponting from Paul Newman :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2240227/Ricky-Ponting-retires-Paul-Newman-tribute.html

Personally I loved his attitude to the game, he was a winner who wouldn't give an inch. Might have put a few noses out of joint from time to time but I enjoyed him.

He was a class act and easy on the eye. His ability to pull the quickest bowlers time and again harked back to older times. His captain's knock at Old Trafford in 05 stands out for me, the character and quality in that innings was incredible.

For me, he'll probably go down at number 4 in the Australian batting pantheon behind Bradman, Chappell and Border. Great player. Good luck in retirement.

For me, he'll probably go down at number 4 in the Australian batting pantheon behind Bradman, Chappell and Border. Great player. Good luck in retirement.

..........................

Purely under the guise of playing devils advocate i'd put Ponting below Waugh as well. The one man who if you had to ask someone to bat for your life, i'd choose Waugh everyday of the week. Brutal hundreds and hundreds on one leg, he could do it all.

The biggest compliment I can pay to him is to say I'm glad to see the back of him.

Saying that though, he's clearly not the player he was a few seasons back, based on consistency.

He was lucky enough to captain an outstanding era of Aussie players, a team that batted deep and had Warne & McGrath to bail you out in any conditions. Hell, I could have skippered that side....

Bearded,

I'd have Waugh a notch below personally, fantastic batsman he was. I'd have him to bat for my life but I think Ponting was the better batsman all-round batsman and could grab the game by the scruff of the neck in a way Waugh couldn't.

I understand your opinion though. Heck if Mark Waugh had a bit more of his brothers mentality to batting he'd have likely finished above the pair of them.

he is a legend, was a legend, and will stay a legend. A great batsman indeed. Salute to a wonderful career.

2(kallis and sachin) more and we will never see an era where so many legends performed together.

Its time we just enjoy these players for the time they are there. cant see a similar type of performances whihc they gave for centuries to come.

Fair point Major, but for me Waugh was a package, a far far better captain and to my mind scored runs against far better attacks than Ponting faced. Either way they're cracking players.

I think whenever a generation of players retire we assume we won't see there like again playing together, but people said that in the 60's and the 70's but they will come again, they always do.

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Bearded,

Wont dispute most of that, he was certainly a better captain and faced better attacks over his entire career, especially the early 90s Windies attack who he went toe to toe with.

I suppose we all have our own things we see and I simply give more to Ponting's style and ability to dominate. As you say though two cracking players regardless.

Incidentally, if I was putting together an all-time Australian XI I probably wouldn't pick either. As remarkable as that might sound to some.

Luckily met Ricky a few times over in Australia,top bloke,great ambassador for Cricket.Still one of the best test batsman I have ever seen in the flesh.
Although Ricky maybe should have gone after the last ashes series in my opinion.I think he stayed on through real support from Clarke and the result of Aussie batsman coming through the ranks to replace him.
Good man,great player sad to see him go,the little master next?.

Ricky , at his peak, is the best player against fast bowling and to his credit he demolished best of pace bowlers on several occasion.
I vividly remember that innings at Perth against Wasim,Shoaib and Saqlain at where he hammered each bowler,.

Time for the master of dead pitches to follow him.Team comes first, your records are secondary.

He departs fittingly on the same ground where, at the age of 20 in 1995, he first wore the baggy green. ''This is where it started and this is where it's going to finish.''
(smh)

A good batsman and skipper , also 100 test victories which is a dizzying stat !
His downfall can be attributed to the scg test 2008 where his confidence was shattered.He hasn't been the same since.DRS might have had a hand as well.

Pox,
His downfall can be attributed to the scg test 2008 where his confidence was shattered.

What happened?

Pox,
Googled it mate, forgot all about that debacle

agree with most of that.

fantastic player, but a limited captain, and as you say, he was far from unflappable. i was at the gaba when he flipped his lid over some appeal that shouldnt have been out anyway.

he did have the sense at least to wave at the barmy army. i think it was mitchell johnson who got about 3 hours abuse for not waving