It is great to see that Ponting has gone past Border as the highest run getter of the Australian team. He deserves to be the highest run getter of the Australian team as he has been very consistent.
On the way to becoming the highest run getter for the Australian team he has come up with some amazing knocks, and I have been privileged to watch a few of them.
The one knock that I always think highly of is his 197 against Akram, Shoaib and co. on a quick track at Perth in 99. In 1999 Perth still was a lightning quick track, and the opposition had bowlers like Akram, Shoaib etc. So, it was a fine pace attack indeed.
Pakistan on a quick track got cleaned up for just 155 as they couldn't handle the pace and bounce of the WACA track as the Australian quicker bowlers made merry, but Pakistan struck back with the tall Mohammad Akram supported by Wasim had Australia reeling at 54 for 4 what with players like Slater, Waugh twins back in the pavilion it looked like Pakistan had got back in the match. The characteristic of any great team is there would be someone, who would stand up and be counted. On that day it was Punter and Langer.
In 1999 Punter was still known as a player with potential, but someone, who has the habit of throwing his wicket away, and until then he even had a bad series, and there were even calls for him to be dropped for that match at Perth, but on that day he majestically pulled and hooked Shaoib and co to play a great knock. I am still in awe of those shots he played on the back foot, and how quickly he shifted his weight on to the back foot to hit the likes of Shoaib and Akram all over the park. Langer too made a superb century but Punter's majestic knock overshadowed Langer's efforts.
I know that Punter played a fine knock under pressure at Old Trafford in the Ashes 05, but for the sheer pleasure of watching him pull and hook Shoaib and co. on a quick track, and the way he turned game on its head as Australia were in a spot of bother at 50 odd for 4 well, I would say if not his best knock it would have to go down as one of his best knocks!
The photo for this article is Punter celebrating his century at Perth in 1999. I thought I won't get a photo of a match that was played about 10 years back, but thanks to cricinfo I got one!
6 comments:
Yeah, I do remember seeing that match broadcasted by Channel 9 through ESPN, that was really a great knock of character by Punter to silince his critics. Man...his back foot play on either side of the wicket especially the pull and the hook when on song is just awesome to watch.
Yeah Punter is at his best when he plays those shots on the back foot.
Punter is the only player who is in the race to break the record of Sachin's 42 centuries in Test cricket.First plus point is he is two year younger than sachin means his age is with him.Second is he don't get caught in nervous ninetees as Sachin.
Yeah Punter can obviously break Tendulkar's record as he is younger though one can say Tendulkar may yet play for another 2 to 3 years.
So it would be interesting to see whether Punter can break Tendulkar's record.
if australia is still feared lots of that credit should still go to ponting for the batsman he is...
Ricky's pull shots are like what ice cold lemonade on a warm day.......
His play is true class with plain old fashioned timing combined with modern aggression.
He can easily beat Tendulkar cause, Ponting unlike Tendulkar does not suffer much from injuries.
Only his captaincy is not what people think.
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