Image from Nellistc

There are few players in the modern game of international cricket who have earned as much respect as the Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest batsman currently playing, but it is his leadership skills that are truly outstanding. His individual honours truly show his on field strengths:

• ICC Player of the Year: 2006, 2007
• ICC Captain of the Year: 2007
• ICC Test Player of the Year: 2006
• ICC World Test XI: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• ICC World ODI XI: 2004, 2006, 2007

 Few players can claim the success that Ponting has achieved throughout his 12 year career. Punter, as he is also known, is Australia’s leading One Day International run scorer, and was the first Australian to ever reach 10,000 runs in ODI cricket.

His current playing performance in the 2007 Australia v Sri Lanka test series has also been incredible, with Australia winning the first test by 40 runs after a follow on was proclaimed. Truly Ricky Ponting is one of the greatest players that Australia has ever produced, and with the likes of Don Bradman to compare against, that is a great achievement.