Ricky Ponting is one of the greatest cricketers Australia has ever produced and one of the most successful captains in the history of the game. He was a prolific right-handed batsman known for his aggressive stroke play, impeccable timing, and remarkable consistency.
As captain, he led Australia to back-to-back ICC Cricket World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007, making him the only captain to achieve this feat. Under his leadership, Australia also won multiple Ashes series and maintained an era of dominance across formats.
In a recent interview, Ricky Ponting picked South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis as the greatest ever cricketer.
He stated, “Jacques Kallis is the best cricketer that’s ever played. I don’t care. I don’t care about all the others. Full stop. 13,000 runs. 44 or 45 Test hundreds. And 300 wickets. Either one of those careers is outstanding. You can take 300 Test wickets every day of the week, and you take 45 Tests 100s. He’s got them both. He was just a born cricketer. Unorthodox in the slips, didn’t drop anything in the slips, had a sort of funny technique, caught everything. I think he’s the best and the most underrated because he’s not talked about very much at all. Probably because of his personality and his character. He’s not out there. He’s low-key, yeah. Hasn’t done much media work. So, he’s sort of one of those forgotten-about ones a little bit.”
The South African legend had a highly decorated career, excelling as a right-handed batsman and a fast-medium bowler. His ability to dominate with both bat and ball made him a key figure for South Africa across formats.
He has over 13,000 Test runs at an average of 55.37 and 292 wickets, making him one of the most complete players in history. In ODIs, he amassed 11,579 runs and took 273 wickets, achieving the rare feat of 10,000+ runs and 200+ wickets in both formats. With 45 Test centuries, he ranks among the highest century-makers, second only to Sachin Tendulkar among non-Asian players.
Ricky Ponting picks India and Australia as favorites ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed India and Australia to reach the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing their depth, consistency, and strong performances in ICC tournaments.
Ponting believes that *Australia, with its aggressive approach and experienced core, will be a major force in Pakistan, where the tournament will be held. Meanwhile, he sees India as a dominant white-ball side, with a well-balanced squad capable of excelling in subcontinental conditions.
However, he also acknowledged that Pakistan could be a strong contender, given their home advantage and the unpredictability of their performances in ICC events. With the tournament set to feature the world’s top teams, Ponting expects a highly competitive event but remains confident that India and Australia will emerge as the two finalists.
