11 July 2013

Ricky Ponting's final first-class innings

Raise that bat with pride Punter © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting is my cricketing hero and this morning I am so proud of The Maestro.

His first-class career is officially over and that ends what has been a true Australian journey with so much history to speak of. And what a way it has been brought to
an end. A Sheffield Shield win with the Tasmanian Tigers, top run scorer in the 2012/13 Shield contest, and now 169* runs for Surrey in his final dig at The Oval, a ground where he was a part of various Ashes conclusions. 

Best of all is he was unbeaten at the crease. Saw some highlights last night on Fox Sport and it was an innings I wish I could have watched live. We did get the Ashton Agar show last night though. 

Thank you Punter for all the memories and your commitment to this great game of ours. Pure class,
true determination. 

Statistics:

Test cricket:
168 matches, 287 innings, 13,378 runs, Avg 51.85, HS 257, 41 (100s), 62 (50s), 196 catches
ODI cricket:
375 matches, 365 innings, 13,704 runs, HS 164, Avg 42.04, 30 (100s), 82 (50s), 160 catches
First-class cricket: 289 matches, 494 innings, 24,150 runs, HS 257, Avg 55.90
, 82 (100s), 106 (50s), 309 catches. 

"As much as I enjoy it (first-class cricket), I need to look after in my personal life now. It's been nearly 21 years that I've played and a lot of that time has been away from home. I've got a young family and it will be nice to just live a life as a father."

Meeting Punter at a training session in 2011. Was great to watch him train.

Punter's autobiography is set for release in October, which should be a brilliant read. I have read his Captains Diaries which provided a fair share of insight into his younger days, but this will be the ultimate book of the Tasmanian maestro.

You will also be able to hear him commentate in the 2013 Big Bash League, this year broadcast by Channel 10.

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