Ricky Ponting Turns 50: 50 Facts About The Legendary Australian Cricketer!

Last Updated:December 19, 2024, 07:10 IST

During his illustrious career, Ricky Ponting scored 27,483 runs and 71 centuries, making him the third-most successful cricketer, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Brilliant batter, exceptional fielder and captain par excellence. You think of these phrases and only one name comes to mind — Ricky Ponting. The former Australia captain, who won back-to-back ODI world cups in 2003 and 2007, has turned 50. In his heyday, the right-handed batter’s arrival on the pitch would instil fear in the hearts and minds of the opposition.

During his illustrious career, Ponting scored 27,483 runs and 71 centuries, making him the third-most successful cricketer, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Ponting represented Australia in 168 Tests, 375 ODIs and 17 T20I matches. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ex-Aussie cricketer featured in 10 matches. He was recently appointed as the head coach of the Punjab Kings.

As Ricky Ponting celebrates his 50th birthday today, we take a look at 50 facts and figures about the legendary Australian skipper.

50 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Ricky Ponting

1. Ricky Ponting made his international debut in an ODI against South Africa in February 1995.
2. In the Test, Ponting played his first match against Sri Lanka in December 1995.
3. Ponting was dismissed for 96 on his Test debut.
4. In first-class cricket, Ponting played 289 matches.
5. In first-class cricket, Ponting’s highest score was 257.
6. He scored 82 centuries and 106 half-centuries in first-class cricket.
7. In international cricket, Ponting picked eight wickets under his belt.
8. Ponting’s first T20I match came in February 2005 against New Zealand.
9. Ponting is the highest run-scorer (13378) for Australia in Tests
10. He is also Australia’s highest run-scorer (13589) in ODIs.
11. In ODIs, Ponting’s highest score was 164.
12. In Tests, Ponting registered his highest score of 257.
13. He has appeared in the third-highest number (168) of Tests.
14. Ponting holds the record for scoring third-most number of international tons (14) against India.
15. In the shortest format, his highest score was 98 not out.
16. In the T20I, Ponting scored 401 runs in 17 matches.
17. In the IPL, Ponting featured in 10 matches.
18. Ponting made his IPL debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2008.
19. In his maiden IPL game, Ponting represented the Kolkata Knight Riders.
20. Later, Ponting plied his trade for Mumbai Indians also in the IPL.
21. His last IPL appearance came in 2013.
22. In ODIs, Ponting scored 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries.
23. In Test cricket, Ponting has 41 tons and 62 half-centuries under his belt.
24. In 17 T20I matches, he managed to hit two half-centuries.
25. Ponting led Australia to three World Cup triumphs — two as captain.
26. Ponting holds the record for playing in the most number of World Cup matches as a skipper.
27. Ponting led Australia in the most number of ODIs (229).
28. He had produced a fine knock of an unbeaten 140 in the 2003 World Cup final against India.
29. Ponting managed to hit five tons in the World Cup.
30. Ponting is the only captain, apart from Clive Lloyd, to lift the World Cup trophy on two occasions.
31. He also led Australia to 165 ODI wins in 230 matches, this is the most by a captain in the 50-over format.
32. Under Ponting’s leadership, Australia were undefeated in 22 Tests down under, from September 2005 to January 2008.
33. As a captain, Ponting won the Champions Trophy twice.
34. Overall, Ponting is the third-highest run-scorer (27483) in international cricket (across three formats).
35. With 71 international tons, Ponting is the third-highest centurion.
36. Ponting holds the record for the second-highest runs (706) scored in a Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
37. Ponting has the second-most number of catches (364) across three formats in international cricket.
38. Ponting is one of the two Australian players to score three double-hundreds in a calendar year.
39. Ponting was nicknamed Punter.
40. He is also known to be a greyhound enthusiast.
41. Ponting scored 192 in his debut match for Surrey in the English County Championship.
42. Ponting announced his retirement from Tests in 2012.
43. In 2013, Ponting decided to retire from all forms of the game.
44. Following his retirement, Ponting ventured into coaching.
45. He handled coaching duties at the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
46. In 2018, Ponting took over as the coach of the Delhi Capitals.
47. He was appointed as the Punjab Kings head coach in 2024.
48. Ponting was the head coach in Washington Freedom’s title-winning campaign in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024.
49. Ricky Ponting is married to Rianna.
50. He’s a father to three children.