Ricky Thomas Ponting, 37, the captain along with Stephen Waugh, who changed the face of Australian Cricket in World Cricket. He continued Stephen Waugh's dream of making the Australian cricket team- the Invinsibles. He is the second highest scorer in international cricket today, after Sachin Tendulkar. Over and above, he was my favourite captain and second favourite batsman and the best fielder ;) Ricky Thomas Ponting, I am thoroughly going to feel this void when I see new energetic blokes playing in the Australian squad, I will miss your energy, what you brought to the field. Your command as a captain, which I have been missing for 2 years now, your support to pup as the captain, you. Hell I will miss you!
I remember seeing you as a captain for the first time against England 2002 and ever since then, I always followed you, have a poster hanging on my room wall where I was. Your captaincy won my heart! Then came your batting: pull shots were unstoppable, your sixes couldn't stop once you started them, your runs didn't stop once you started them, you were incredible! Then I saw your fielding: had never seen anyone apart from Jonty Rhodes who fielded the way you did. Hit the ball accurately on the stumps, and there... The batsman is runout. Caught some unbelievable catches, stopped some unstoppable shots. There u were: an ideal cricketer who anyone could idolise!
And then there was your firm attitude as a captain, your confident body language as a batsman, your nice little mind games before the match, which many hated, but I loved it. Because it takes courage to be what you were and are, it takes courage to retire on your own, to take a call at a point in your career when you know it can be the end from the selector's side. I loved your courage, courage to declare a match when others may feel what has he done? Your confidence was just there, confidence in your team mates,confidence in yourself.
I personally got to see you thrice, India vs Australia 2003 in India, champions league finals, Mumbai 2004 and India vs Australia finals 2007. I don't remember much of your knock, but I do remember observing you and your concentration prematch, during the match, how you encourage young Michael Clarke to go and bowl spin to remove Sachin Tendulkar in 2003.. Yes, I know you as that.
I had a great experience when I went for a tour at Lords, getting to sit where you always sit in the dressing room is a WHOA feeling for a fan, an experience of a lifetime. For a fan, it maybe the closest he or she can get to the idol. Glad I was privileged to experience that.
I would like to say when I saw your press conference today, I could still see that glitter and glimmer in your eyes as always, which can be seen in a person always eager to do something new, learn something more. And I could also see the maturity which you always carried with you for every decision you made on field. Thank you sir, for all that you gave us, gave cricket. Without you, I don't think I could be a great Australian cricket fan what I am today, and a proud one :)
Love and respect,
A fan from India :)
I remember seeing you as a captain for the first time against England 2002 and ever since then, I always followed you, have a poster hanging on my room wall where I was. Your captaincy won my heart! Then came your batting: pull shots were unstoppable, your sixes couldn't stop once you started them, your runs didn't stop once you started them, you were incredible! Then I saw your fielding: had never seen anyone apart from Jonty Rhodes who fielded the way you did. Hit the ball accurately on the stumps, and there... The batsman is runout. Caught some unbelievable catches, stopped some unstoppable shots. There u were: an ideal cricketer who anyone could idolise!
And then there was your firm attitude as a captain, your confident body language as a batsman, your nice little mind games before the match, which many hated, but I loved it. Because it takes courage to be what you were and are, it takes courage to retire on your own, to take a call at a point in your career when you know it can be the end from the selector's side. I loved your courage, courage to declare a match when others may feel what has he done? Your confidence was just there, confidence in your team mates,confidence in yourself.
I personally got to see you thrice, India vs Australia 2003 in India, champions league finals, Mumbai 2004 and India vs Australia finals 2007. I don't remember much of your knock, but I do remember observing you and your concentration prematch, during the match, how you encourage young Michael Clarke to go and bowl spin to remove Sachin Tendulkar in 2003.. Yes, I know you as that.
I had a great experience when I went for a tour at Lords, getting to sit where you always sit in the dressing room is a WHOA feeling for a fan, an experience of a lifetime. For a fan, it maybe the closest he or she can get to the idol. Glad I was privileged to experience that.
I would like to say when I saw your press conference today, I could still see that glitter and glimmer in your eyes as always, which can be seen in a person always eager to do something new, learn something more. And I could also see the maturity which you always carried with you for every decision you made on field. Thank you sir, for all that you gave us, gave cricket. Without you, I don't think I could be a great Australian cricket fan what I am today, and a proud one :)
Love and respect,
A fan from India :)
