View source for Ricky Ponting

{{Short description|Australian cricketer (born 1974)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Ricky Ponting
|    honorific_suffix = [[Officer of the Order of Australia|AO]]
|               image = Ricky Ponting 2015.jpg
|             caption = Ponting in 2015
|             country = Australia
|            fullname = Ricky Thomas Ponting
|            nickname = Punter
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|19|df=yes}}<ref name=cricket.com.au>{{cite web|title=Ricky Ponting|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/players/ricky-ponting|website=cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]|access-date=19 July 2014|archive-date=11 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211010447/http://www.cricket.com.au/players/ricky-ponting|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|         birth_place = [[Launceston, Tasmania]], Australia<ref name=cricket.com.au/>
|              height = 175cm<ref name=cricket.com.au/>
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|                role = [[Batting order (cricket)#Top order|Top-order batter]]
|              family = [[Greg Campbell (cricketer)|Greg Campbell]] (uncle)
|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 1995–2012
|       testdebutdate = 8 December
|       testdebutyear = 1995
|    testdebutagainst = Sri Lanka
|             testcap = 366
|        lasttestdate = 3 December
|        lasttestyear = 2012
|     lasttestagainst = South Africa
|        odidebutdate = 15 February
|        odidebutyear = 1995
|     odidebutagainst = South Africa
|              odicap = 123
|         lastodidate = 19 February
|         lastodiyear = 2012
|      lastodiagainst = India
|            odishirt = 14
|       T20Idebutdate = 17 February 
|        T20Idebutyear = 2005
|     T20Idebutagainst = New Zealand 
|              T20Icap = 10
|         lastT20Idate = 8 June
|         lastT20Iyear = 2009
|      lastT20Iagainst = Sri Lanka
|            T20Ishirt = 14
|               club1 = [[Tasmanian cricket team|Tasmania]]
|               year1 = {{nowrap|1992/93–2012/13}}
|               club2 = [[Somerset County Cricket Club|Somerset]]
|               year2 = 2004
|               club3 = [[Kolkata Knight Riders]]
|               year3 = 2008
|               club4 = [[Hobart Hurricanes]]
|               year4 = 2011/12–2012/13
|               club5 = [[Mumbai Indians]]
|               year5 = 2013
|         clubnumber5 = 14
|               club6 = [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]
|               year6 = 2013
|               club7 = [[Antigua Hawksbills]]
|               year7 = 2013
|             columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 168
|               runs1 = 13,378
|            bat avg1 = 51.85
|           100s/50s1 = 41/62
|          top score1 = 257
|         deliveries1 = 587
|            wickets1 = 5
|           bowl avg1 = 55.20
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 1/0
|  catches/stumpings1 = 196/–
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 375
|               runs2 = 13,704
|            bat avg2 = 42.03
|           100s/50s2 = 30/82
|          top score2 = 164
|         deliveries2 = 150
|            wickets2 = 3
|           bowl avg2 = 34.66
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 1/12
|  catches/stumpings2 = 160/–
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 289
|               runs3 = 24,150
|            bat avg3 = 55.90
|           100s/50s3 = 82/106
|          top score3 = 257
|         deliveries3 = 1,506
|            wickets3 = 14
|           bowl avg3 = 58.07
|            fivefor3 = 0
|             tenfor3 = 0
|       best bowling3 = 2/10
|  catches/stumpings3 = 309/–
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 456
|               runs4 = 16,363
|            bat avg4 = 41.74
|           100s/50s4 = 34/99
|          top score4 = 164
|         deliveries4 = 349
|            wickets4 = 8
|           bowl avg4 = 33.62
|            fivefor4 = 0
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 3/34
|  catches/stumpings4 = 195/–
|                date = 11 July 
|                year = 2013
|          coachclub1 = [[Mumbai Indians]]
|          coachyear1 = 2014–2016
|          coachclub2 = [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|          coachyear2 = 2017–2018
|          coachclub3 = [[Delhi Capitals]]
|          coachyear3 = 2018–2024
|          coachclub4 = [[Washington Freedom (cricket)|Washington Freedom]]
|          coachyear4 = 2024–present
|         coachclub5 = [[Punjab Kings]]
|          coachyear5 =2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7133.html ESPNcricinfo
| medaltemplates =  <!-- MENTION HOST NAMES FOR TEAM SPORTS -->
{{MedalSport|Men's [[cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry |{{AUS}}}} 
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Cricket World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1996 Cricket World Cup|1996 India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1999 Cricket World Cup|1999 British Isles & Netherlands]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[2003 Cricket World Cup|2003 South Africa-Zimbabwe-Kenya]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007 West Indies]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[ICC Champions Trophy]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2006 ICC Champions Trophy|2006 India]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[2009 ICC Champions Trophy|2009 South Africa]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Cricket at the 1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]]|}}
}}

'''Ricky Thomas Ponting''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (born 19 December 1974) is an Australian [[cricket]] coach, commentator, and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time and is the most successful captain in international cricket history, with 220 victories in 324 matches with a winning rate of 67.91%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tomar |first=Ayesha |date=2024-07-19 |title=Cricket's Icons: Unveiling the Greatest Batsmen of All Time |url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/photos/crickets-icons-unveiling-the-greatest-batsmen-of-all-time-1168892/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=Cricket Country |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Greatest Cricket Batsmen of All Time |url=https://stadiumtalk.com/s/greatest-cricket-batsmen-ef6f8746ef4c4bbe/ |access-date=2025-09-28 |website=stadiumtalk.com |language=en}}</ref>

He has made the [[list of cricketers by number of international centuries scored|third highest]] number of centuries in international cricket, behind [[Sachin Tendulkar]] and [[Virat Kohli]]. He holds the record for winning most [[International Cricket Council|ICC]] tournaments as a captain in Men's [[Cricket]], including the [[2003 Cricket World Cup|2003]] and [[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007]] [[Cricket World Cup]]s, and [[2006 ICC Champions Trophy|2006]] and [[2009 ICC Champions Trophy|2009]] [[ICC Champions Trophy|Champions Trophies]]. He was also a member of the [[1999 Cricket World Cup]] winning Australian team.

Domestically, Ponting played for his home state of [[Tasmania cricket team|Tasmania]] as well as Tasmania's [[Hobart Hurricanes]] in Australia's domestic [[Twenty20]] competition, the [[Big Bash League]]. He played as a specialist right-handed [[Batting (cricket)|batsman]], an excellent [[slip fielder]], as well as a very occasional [[bowling (cricket)|bowler]]. He led Australia to their second 5–0 Ashes win as well as victory at the 2003 and 2007 [[Cricket World Cup]]s and was also a member of the [[1999 Cricket World Cup|1999 World Cup]] winning team under [[Steve Waugh]]. He led Australia to consecutive [[ICC Champions Trophy]] victory in 2006 and 2009. Combative and at times a controversial captain, statistically he is one of the most successful Test captains of all time, with 48 victories in 77 Tests. As a player, Ponting is the only cricketer in history to be involved in 100 Test victories<ref>{{cite web |date=29 December 2010 |title=The proudest century |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-s-100th-test-win-the-proudest-century-531030 |access-date=30 December 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting |title=Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Batting records-Most Test wins |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119022911/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dmatches%3Bresult%3D1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbatting |archive-date=19 January 2014  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 December 2010 |title=Jump before you are pushed, Chappell tells Ponting |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-v-england-4th-test-jump-before-you-are-pushed-ian-chappell-tells-ponting-494662 |access-date=30 December 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>[http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/ponting-celebrates-100test-wins/20110903.htm Ponting celebrates 100 Test wins – Rediff.com Cricket]. Rediff.com (3 September 2011). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.</ref> and was involved in the most ODI victories as a player, with 262 wins,<ref name="odiwins"/> having played in over 160&nbsp;Tests and 370&nbsp;ODIs.

A prolific batsman, Ponting is Australia's leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket. He was named "Cricketer of the Decade 2000"<ref>{{cite web |date=14 January 2010 |title=Ponting voted Player of the Decade |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/decadereview2009/content/story/443957.html |access-date=8 September 2018}}</ref> was named in the country's best Ashes XI in a [[Cricket Australia]] poll in 2017<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/australia-best-ashes-team-past-40-years-fan-vote-final-results-gilchrist-warne-ponting/2017-12-01| title= The Best Australian Ashes XI revealed|date=1 December 2017|work=CA|access-date=26 July 2009 }}</ref> and in July 2018 he was inducted into the [[ICC Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2 July 2018 |title=Ponting, Dravid, Claire Taylor inducted into ICC Hall of Fame |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-rahul-dravid-claire-taylor-inducted-into-icc-hall-of-fame-1150940 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He is the current assistant coach of the Australian national men's cricket team, having been appointed to the role in February 2019.

Ponting announced his retirement from [[Test cricket]] in November 2012, the day before playing in his final Test against South Africa; this was his 168th and last Test appearance,<ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-to-retire-after-perth-test-594213 Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test, Perth : Ricky Ponting to retire after Perth Test | Cricket News | Australia v South Africa]. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref> equalling the Australian record held by [[Steve Waugh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/australia-unveil-packed-summer-schedule|title=Australia unveil packed summer schedule|publisher=Wisden India|access-date=19 July 2012}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=821512 Sport News – SportsFan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202012524/http://www.skynews.com.au/sport/article.aspx?id=821512 |date=2 December 2012 }}. Skynews.com.au. Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref> He retired with a Test batting average of 51.85,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-ponting-out-in-final-test-innings-before-retirement/story-e6frfg8o-1226529070328 |title = Punter's career comes to a close|date = 3 December 2012}}</ref> although he continued to play cricket around the world until 2013.<ref name="wisdenretirement">{{cite news|url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/ponting-retire-cricket-clt20/66870|title=Ponting to retire from all cricket after CLT20|publisher=Wisden India|date=20 June 2013|access-date=20 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102509/http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/ponting-retire-cricket-clt20/66870|archive-date=24 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==1974–1995: Early life==
===Birth and personal life===
[[File:Cricketer Ricky Ponting and Rianna Ponting (24079181379).jpg|thumb|Ponting with his wife Rianna in 2016.]]
Born in [[Launceston, Tasmania]], on 19 December 1974, Ricky Ponting is the eldest of Graeme and Lorraine Ponting's 3 children. Graeme was "a good club cricketer" and played [[Australian rules football]], while Lorraine was a state [[vigoro]] champion.<ref name="Ponting18-20">Richardson (2002), pp. 18–20.</ref> His uncle [[Greg Campbell (cricketer)|Greg Campbell]] played Test cricket for Australia in 1989 and 1990. Ponting's parents first lived in [[Prospect, Tasmania|Prospect]] {{convert|4.1|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of city centre; however, they moved into the working-class area of [[Newnham, Tasmania|Newnham]], {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of central Launceston.<ref name="Ponting20">Richardson (2002), p. 20.</ref>

After marrying his long-time girlfriend, law student Rianna Cantor, in June 2002, Ponting credited her as the reason for his increased maturity.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zr2UoCV1c4 Ricky Ponting – Australian Story.] ABC TV.</ref> The couple have three children.<ref name="Emmy">{{cite news | title = Baby Emmy a cure for Ponting's trophy woes |work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 27 July 2008 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/baby-emmy-a-cure-for-pontings-trophy-woes/2008/07/26/1216492801742.html | access-date =13 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="Matisse">{{cite news | title = Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna welcome baby daughter Matisse Ellie |work=The Daily Telegraph | date = 8 September 2011 | url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/former-australian-captain-ricky-ponting-and-his-wife-rianna-welcome-baby-daughter-matisse-ellie/story-e6frey50-1226132161919 | access-date =9 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="Fletcher">{{cite news | title = DSEG on Twitter | date = 24 September 2014 | url = https://twitter.com/DSEGWorldwide/status/514684024120672257 | access-date =25 September 2014}}</ref>

===Junior ranks===
Introduced to cricket by father Graeme and uncle [[Greg Campbell (cricketer)|Greg Campbell]],<ref name="Ponting18">Richardson (2002), p. 18.</ref> Ponting played for the [[Mowbray Cricket Club|Mowbray]] Under-13s team at the age of 11 in 1985–86. In January 1986, he took part in the five-day annual Northern Tasmania junior cricket competition.<ref name="Ponting21">Richardson (2002), p. 21.</ref> After scoring four centuries in a week, bat manufacturer [[Kookaburra Sport|Kookaburra]] gave Ponting a sponsorship contract while in just eighth grade mainly on the back of these four centuries. Ponting took this form into the Under-16s week-long competition less than a month later, scoring an even century on the final day.<ref name="Ponting22">Richardson (2002), p. 22.</ref> Ted Richardson, the former head of the Northern Tasmanian Schools Cricket Association said: "Ricky is certainly the equal of [[David Boon]] at this level.<ref name="Ponting22"/>

Australian Rules football was also a big part of Ponting's sporting life, and is a keen follower of the [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne Kangaroos]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beveridge|first1=Riley|title=Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/your-afl-clubs-most-famous-supporters-from-barack-obama-to-cam-newton/news-story/03eb54659866d587cf9c2cc4b9f3d8c5|website=Fox Sports|access-date=29 January 2016|date=29 January 2016}}</ref> In 2024, Ponting’s Wine brand (Ponting Wines) announced a partnership with North Melbourne<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=North Melbourne partners with Ponting Wines |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1496277/north-melbourne-partners-with-ponting-wines |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=nmfc.com.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ponting Wines Joins Forces with North Melbourne Football Club |url=https://www.pontingwines.com.au/blogs/ponting-wines/ponting-wines-north-melbourne-football-club?srsltid=AfmBOoowOoDzRYCwItIJ-BD1dy9PoXb6XhmlZSLaSkPAu-mVSF4gp0Kx |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Ponting Wines |language=en}}</ref> During the winter he played junior football for [[North Launceston Football Club|North Launceston]] and up until he was 14, it could have become a possible sporting option. This was before he broke the [[humerus]] in his right arm playing for North Launceston Under-17s as a 13-year-old. Ponting's arm was so badly damaged, it had to be pinned.<ref name="Staples12">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 12.</ref> Told to endure a 14-week lay-off, he never played competitive football again.<ref name="Ponting24">Richardson (2002), p. 24.</ref>

During Tasmanian [[Sheffield Shield]] matches at the [[NTCA Ground]] (Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association Ground), Ponting helped out with the scoreboard, thereby surrounding himself with international cricketers.<ref name="Ponting25">Richardson (2002), p. 25.</ref><ref name="Staples10">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 10–11.</ref> After leaving school at the end of year 10 in 1990, he began work as a groundsman at [[Scotch Oakburn College]], a private school in Launceston. In 1991 the Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association sponsored Ponting to attend a fortnight's training at the [[Australian Cricket Academy]] in Adelaide.<ref name="Ponting26">Richardson (2002), p. 26.</ref><ref name="Staples32">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 13.</ref> The two weeks turned into a full two-year sponsorship as he was said to be the best 17-year-old batsman Academy coach [[Rod Marsh]] had ever seen.<ref name="Ponting27">Richardson (2002), p. 27.</ref>

Playing five games for Tasmania for the 1992 Under-19 carnival in [[Perth]], Ponting scored 350 runs, earning him selection in the 13-man national Under-19 development squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa—the first Australian cricket team to make an official tour to the country since [[Bill Lawry]]'s team in 1970.<ref name="Staples30&31">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 30–31.</ref><ref name="Staples35">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 35.</ref>

===Early Australian domestic career===
Ponting made his [[First-class cricket|first-class debut]] for Tasmania in November 1992, when just 17 years and 337 days old, becoming the youngest Tasmanian to play in a [[Sheffield Shield]] match. However, he had to wait until 1995 before making his ODI debut, during a quadrangular tournament in New Zealand in a match against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]. His Test debut followed shortly after, when selected for the first Test of the 1995 home series against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] in Perth, in which he scored 96. He lost his place in the national team several times in the period before early-1999, due to lack of form and discipline, before becoming One Day International captain in early-2002 and Test captain in early 2004.
After scoring 114 not out in club match against [[Riverside Cricket Club (Tasmania)|Riverside]], Ponting became the youngest player to appear for [[Tasmanian Tigers|Tasmania]] in a [[Sheffield Shield]] match, breaking Boon's record by 14 days.<ref>Richardson (2002), pp. 30–31.</ref> In November 1992, with Ponting just 17 years and 337 days, he went to the crease at number four against [[Southern Redbacks|South Australia]] at the [[Adelaide Oval]].<ref>Richardson (2002), p. 31.</ref> Despite scoring 56 in a 127-run partnership with Boon, he could not prevent a defeat, scoring just four in Tasmania's second innings.<ref name="Ponting32">Richardson (2002), p. 32.</ref> In his first match in Tasmania, this time against [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]], Ponting contributed 32 and 18 in a draw. He followed this up with 25 against [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]] in a narrow loss. His first match in Sydney also marked the debut of future Australian opening bowler [[Glenn McGrath]]. His subsequent century also meant that Ponting became the youngest Tasmanian to score a first-class century at 18 years and 40 days, eclipsing Boon's record of 19 years and 356 days.<ref name="Ponting32"/> After scoring another half century, Ponting scored back to back centuries against Western Australia on Australia's fastest wicket in [[WACA Ground|Perth]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/256252.html Has the WACA pitch lost its shine?], ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2009</ref> He became the youngest batsmen in Shield history to score twin centuries in a match. After setting a goal of scoring 500 runs in the season, he ended up scoring 781 at 48.81. After season's end, Ponting played seven four-day games for the Australian Academy, scoring 484 runs at 96.70, even though he was still only 18.<ref name="Ponting34">Richardson (2002), p. 34.</ref>

Speculation ignited that Ponting was an outsider to join the Australian squad on their [[Australian cricket team in England in 1993|1993 tour to England]]. Despite Ponting's reluctance to weigh into the debate, Tasmanian coach [[Greg Shipperd]] thought he could handle the experience.<ref name="Ponting34&35">Richardson (2002), pp. 34–35.</ref> The selectors ended up choosing Western Australian batsman [[Damien Martyn]] for the tour, with Ponting selected in the academy squad captained by [[Justin Langer]], which toured India and Sri Lanka for seven games in August–September 1993. Australian success was limited, with only several wins. No batsman scored a century, despite Ponting reaching 99 not out in a one-day game in [[Colombo]]. He finished the tour second highest in the aggregates, behind Langer.<ref name="Ponting35">Richardson (2002), p. 35.</ref>
Before the start of the 1993–94 Sheffield Shield season, Ponting stated that he wanted to score 1000 runs for the season.<ref name="Ponting35"/> In Tasmania's final match of the season, they needed to defeat South Australia outright to qualify for the final. Set 366 in 102 overs, Ponting scored 161 in a 290-run partnership that ended with Tasmania needing just 41 runs for victory. Despite Tasmania losing four quick wickets, they won with four wickets in hand.<ref name="Ponting36">Richardson (2002), p. 36.</ref><ref>[http://acscricket.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58683.htmll South Australia v Tasmania, 17–20 March 1994] {{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref> Disappointingly for Ponting, he could not repeat the performance in the final against New South Wales, scoring just one and 28, as Tasmania were defeated by an innings and 61 runs.<ref>[https://www.inningsbreak.com/final-sydney-march-25-29-1994-sheffield-shield/ New South Wales v Tasmania, 25–29 March 1994] {{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Innings Break. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref> The season saw Ponting score 965 runs at 48.25, close to his 1000 run goal.<ref name="Ponting36"/><ref name="Ponting143">Richardson (2002), p. 143.</ref>

A month after the final, he was again selected for the academy squad for three limited overs matches against a touring Indian team. Queenslander [[Stuart Law]] captained the Australian side that included former Australian keeper [[Rod Marsh]]. In Australia's victory in [[Canberra]] he top scored with 71 and before scoring 52 in victory in Sydney. The last match was also successful for the home team, with Ponting not required to bat.<ref name="Ponting37">Richardson (2002), p. 37.</ref>

Ponting started his 1994–95 campaign with a century against eventual Shield champions Queensland in Brisbane, impressing Queensland captain [[Allan Border]], "He's just an outstanding prospect", Border said.
Speculation again arose that Ponting could become a candidate for the upcoming [[History of cricket in the West Indies from 1990–91 to 2000#Australia 1994–95|tour to the West Indies]]. When Tasmania played Western Australia at [[Bellerive Oval]] on 4 November 1994, Ponting scored 211. The century was his fifth successive against Western Australia; [[Sir Donald Bradman]] is the only other batsman to score five consecutive centuries against another state in Shield history.<ref name="Ponting38">Richardson (2002), p. 38.</ref> Ten days after the double century, Ponting was named in the Australian XI to take on [[England cricket team|England]] at [[Bellerive Oval]]—in a match that was used as practice before the upcoming series in the West Indies. Future Australian representatives [[Matthew Hayden]], Langer, [[Greg Blewett]] and Martyn were also selected. In a drawn match Ponting compiled a half-century.<ref name="Ponting40">Richardson (2002), p. 40.</ref>

A fourth team was introduced to the [[World Series Cup]] in 1994–95—[[Australia A cricket team|Australia A]]—for the only time. Australian captain [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]] was not a fan of this change as many fans supported Australia A rather than the national team. Despite the negative feedback it gave Ponting a chance on the international stage.<ref name="Ponting40&41">Richardson (2002), pp. 40–41.</ref> Playing for Australia A, he scored 161 runs at 26.83 with one half-century.<ref>[http://acscricket.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58703.html World Series Cup in Aust. Dec 1994/Jan 1995 – Batting Averages] {{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref>

==1995–1999: Early International career==

===Australian debut===
Ponting's domestic performances were rewarded when he was selected for the Australian ODI team to play in all the matches in the 1995 New Zealand Centenary quadrangular tournament in New Zealand, that also included South Africa and India. Ponting made his debut against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] at number six in the batting order. He scored one from six balls, as Australia successfully chased South Africa's target on a difficult batting track. Australia secured another victory in their next match, this time against [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] in Auckland, where Ponting scored 10 not out, after coming to wicket late in the innings. His highest series score came in the third International where Australia lost to [[India national cricket team|India]] in Dunedin. Ponting was promoted to number three in the batting order and responded by scoring 62 from 92 balls. The innings was scored without a boundary and was based on "deft placement and judicious running."<ref name="Ponting45">Richardson (2002), p. 45.</ref> The loss failed to stop Australia from appearing in the final against New Zealand in Auckland. Ponting returned to number six and was seven not out when the winning runs were scored.<ref name="Ponting44-45">Richardson (2002), pp. 44–45.</ref> He finished the series with 80 runs at 40 and strike rate of 71.42 runs per hundred balls.<ref name="ODI series averages">{{cite web |title =One Day International series averages |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=2;template=results;type=batting;view=series |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =16 January 2010}}</ref>

[[Greg Shipperd]] publicly suggested that Ponting could be selected as a reserve [[wicket-keeper]] for the upcoming West Indies tour, despite not keeping-wicket for [[Tasmanian Tigers|Tasmania]]. However, he had kept wicket in pre-season matches and during centre wicket practice. In any case Ponting was selected as a specialist batsman.<ref name="Ponting45"/> "...&nbsp;It was like all my birthdays had come at once. I had some reservations about making my Test debut against arguably the best fast bowling attack in the world", Ponting later said.<ref name="Ponting46">Richardson (2002), p. 46.</ref> The West Indies had been cricket's powerhouse for close to two decades and teams included many feared fast bowlers. Before the tour, Australian captain Mark Taylor thought the last Test batting vacancy was possibly between Ponting and Justin Langer. "Ricky Ponting is more the stroke player while Justin is the tough man. It depends on what we need at the time but you can probably say Ricky has his neck in front because he's been on this tour [of New Zealand]", Taylor said.<ref name="Ponting46"/> Rod Marsh believed Ponting's attitude and fearless approach could tear the West Indies apart. Nevertheless, Ponting did not expect to be selected.<ref name="Ponting47">Richardson (2002), p. 47.</ref> Steve Waugh noted that Ponting would "not be intimidated by the West Indians' inevitable waist-to-chin length."<ref name="Ponting47"/> During the series, Ponting said the current crop of bowlers were not "of the same high class" that opposition teams had come to expect from the West Indies.<ref name="Ponting47"/>

Ponting was selected for the third ODI on 12 March 1995 at [[Queen's Park Oval]], when [[Mark Waugh]] missed out through injury. Ponting—batting at three—was involved in a 59-run partnership with Steve Waugh; however, he was dismissed for 43 when he lifted an attempted pull shot. Mark Waugh returned for the next match and Ponting was subsequently dropped until he replaced an out-of-form David Boon in the fifth and final match, where Ponting got a second-ball duck. In a three-day warm-up match ahead of the Tests, Ponting scored 19, with Greg Blewett scoring a century and Langer compiling a half-century.<ref name="Ponting48">Richardson (2002), p. 48.</ref> The performance was not enough for Ponting to force his way into the Test side; though, Australia did regain the [[Frank Worrell Trophy]] for the first time in 20 years, winning the series 2–1.<ref name="Ponting49-50">Richardson (2002), pp. 49–50.</ref> When Ponting returned to Launceston in June 1995, Tasmania's TAB announced him as their part-time ambassador. He then undertook a tour to England with the Young Australians; a team that included fellow Tasmanian Shaun Young. It also included five future Test batsmen: Matthew Hayden, [[Matthew Elliott (cricketer)|Matthew Elliott]], [[Martin Love]], Justin Langer and [[Stuart Law]].<ref name="Ponting50">Richardson (2002), p. 50.</ref> Despite not batting as well as he "would have liked", Ponting returned to Australia with the fourth highest batting average—48.73.<ref name="Ponting51">Richardson (2002), p. 51.</ref>

Tasmania toured Zimbabwe for five games ahead of the 1995–96 Sheffield Shield. Ponting struggled, aggregating 99 runs at a modest 24.75. By the end of October, he had signed a contract with the [[Australian Cricket Board]], along with 22 other Australian cricketers.<ref name="Ponting51" /> He opened the batting with Boon in Tasmania's first match of the Sheffield Shield season, scoring 20 and 43. Ahead of the following match against Queensland in Hobart, Ponting set himself a goal of scoring a century in each innings; a feat he achieved in a high-scoring draw. His form continued against the [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 1995–96|touring Sri Lankans]] in a one-day game in [[Devonport, Tasmania|Devonport]], scoring 99. He scored another century against the same opposition in Launceston. During the match, the public address system at the [[NTCA Ground]] announced that Ponting was making his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Perth on 8 December. The following morning saw local newspaper ''[[The Examiner (Tasmania)|The Examiner]]'' headline: "He's Ricky Ponting, he's ours ... and he's made it! Tassie's batting star will play in his first Test." Marsh continued his praise of Ponting, who replaced a dropped Blewett. "I have no doubt Ricky will be trying to get 100 in his first Test game. And I hope he does. You'd back him to. If Ricky carries with him the same attitude that he has seen him succeed at First-class cricket to the next level there is no reason why he will not continue to score."<ref name="Ponting52">Richardson (2002), p. 52.</ref>

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 251, before Ponting—batting at number five due to [[Steve Waugh]]'s absence through injury—arrived at the crease with Australia at a comfortable 3/422. He started nervously, edging his first ball past first slip for a boundary from off-spinner [[Muttiah Muralitharan]]. When Ponting reached 96, [[Chaminda Vaas]] hit Ponting high on his thigh and was given out leg before wicket.<ref name="Ponting54">Richardson (2002), p. 54.</ref> Many members of the crowd and media argued it was an incorrect decision due to excessive height. He combined with [[Stuart Law]], also playing on debut, for a partnership of 121. This was only the ninth ever century partnership by debutants in Test cricket.<ref name="Armstrong153">Armstrong (2006), p. 153.</ref> "I've got mixed emotions about my knock at the moment. 96 is a good score but it would have been nice to get a 100", Ponting said after the innings. "Once I struck a few in the middle of the bat, and I spent some time in the middle I tried to relax and enjoy it, just savour the moment." Australia won the match by an innings.<ref name="Ponting55">Richardson (2002), p. 55.</ref> In the second Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day, he scored a "compact" 71 in his only innings, combining for a century stand with Steve Waugh. He also took the wicket of [[Asanka Gurusinha]] in Sri Lanka's first innings amidst four economical overs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63707.html |title=Sri Lanka in Australia Test Series – 2nd Test | publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 January 2010 }}</ref>

However, Ponting's performance was overshadowed by Australian umpire [[Darrell Hair]] no-balling Muralitharan for throwing on seven occasions, increasing tensions between the two teams.<ref name="Ponting55" /><ref name="p87">Piesse, p. 87.</ref> Ponting's fellow Tasmanian Boon retired after the Third Test, and Ponting's performances were not as strong at number six in the batting order, managing six and 20. Australia won yet again, sweeping the series 3–0, and Ponting was in full praise of Boon. "I would have hated to be the first person to come through from Launceston and make it but he has proved it can be done", Ponting said a year before his Test debut.<ref name="Ponting56">Richardson (2002), p. 56.</ref> Ponting ended his debut Test series with 193 runs at 48.25.<ref name=testlist>{{cite web |title =Statsguru – RT Ponting – Tests – Innings by innings list |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =9 December 2006}}</ref><ref name="RT Ponting - Tests - series by series list ">{{cite web |title = RT Ponting – Tests – series by series list |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting;view=series |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =9 December 2009}}</ref>

Though Ponting's appearances for Tasmania continued to be limited, he was still able to top the 1995–96 season averages with 59.50.<ref name="Ponting56"/> He played in all ten games of the World Series ODI Cup played between Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies after the Test series.<ref name="Ponting56"/> Ponting started the series at number four but moved up a position midway through the season,<ref name="statsguruodi">{{cite web |title =Statsguru – RT Ponting – ODIs – Innings by innings list |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=2;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =9 December 2006}}</ref> after opener [[Michael Slater]] was dropped. He broke through for his maiden ODI century in his 12th match, scoring 123 from 138 balls against Sri Lanka at the MCG. However, the effort was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from victory.<ref name=statsguruodi/> Ponting ended his first home ODI tournament with 341 runs at 34.10, including one century and three fifties, as Australia ended as series champions.<ref name=statsguruodi/>

===1996 World Cup===
A [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Tiger]] bombing in [[Colombo]] coupled with death threats to some members of the team forced Australia to forfeit their scheduled [[1996 Cricket World Cup]] match against Sri Lanka in Colombo.<ref>Piesse, p. 95.</ref> Ponting batted in the number three position for the entire tournament, and scored six in Australia's opening match victory over Kenya. He continued to be inconsistent with scores of 12 and 33 against India and Zimbabwe, before becoming the youngest batsman to score a World Cup century, when he scored 102 runs from 112 balls against the West Indies in [[Jaipur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC96/WC96-MATCHES/GROUP-A/AUS_WI_WC96_ODI26_04MAR1996.html |title=Australia v West Indies at Jaipur, 4&nbsp;Mar 1996 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=30 November 2006 |archive-date=8 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708055242/http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC96/WC96-MATCHES/GROUP-A/AUS_WI_WC96_ODI26_04MAR1996.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ponting wore a cap instead of a helmet to show the West Indians that he did not fear them. The effort was not enough, as Australia lost by four wickets.<ref name="Ponting59">Richardson (2002), p. 59.</ref> Australia finished second in their group and faced New Zealand in the quarter-finals. He scored 41 followed by a 15-ball duck in a semi-final victory against the West Indies, as Australia staggered to 8/207. Australia appeared to be heading out of the tournament when the Caribbean team reached 2/165, but a sudden collapse saw Australia win by six runs in the last over.<ref name="Ponting60">Richardson (2002), p. 60.</ref> Ponting scored 45 from 73 balls in the final at the [[Gaddafi Stadium]] in [[Lahore]], which Australia lost to Sri Lanka. Ponting ended his first World Cup campaign with 229 runs at 32.71.<ref name=statsguruodi/>

In August, Australia played in the Singer Cup in Sri Lanka, after a five-month break since the World Cup. Despite the political environment being more assured than during the World Cup, Australia still struggled to defeat the Sri Lankans, now full of confidence. Australia overpowered Zimbabwe, before going down the home side. They regrouped and defeated India; however, Sri Lanka defeated Australia, this time in the final. Ponting scored: 53, 46 not out, 0 and 17 for the series.<ref name="Ponting64">Richardson (2002), p. 64.</ref> With Boon's retirement, Ponting was elevated to the No. 3 position in the Test team, and his first assignment in his new role came in a one-off Test against India at the [[Feroz Shah Kotla]] in [[Delhi]]. Foreshadowing his future Test struggles in India, Ponting made 13 and 14 in a seven-wicket defeat.<ref name="Staples64-65">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 64–65.</ref> His failed to regain his form in the following Titan Cup involving India, South Africa and Australia. After a "scratchy" game against South Africa, Ponting was rested for the next match against India. Nevertheless, he was recalled for the return match against South Africa, making 17. The series ending poorly for Ponting, being bowled for a duck, as India won the finals.<ref name="Ponting65">Richardson (2002), p. 65.</ref> The pair of ODI tournaments on the subcontinent yielded Ponting only 168 runs at 28.00 from seven matches.<ref name=statsguruodi/><ref name="RT Ponting - ODIs - series by series list">{{cite web |title = RT Ponting – ODIs – series by series list  |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=2;template=results;type=batting;view=series |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date =9 December 2009}}</ref>

Ponting continued in the role for the series against the West Indies in 1996–97 in Australia. After two Test matches and three scores under 10, he was replaced by [[Justin Langer]],<ref name="Third Test Match - Australia V West Indies">{{cite web |year=1998 |title=Third Test Match – Australia V West Indies |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153321.html |access-date=19 January 2010 |work=Wisden Almanack |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> despite scoring 88 in the First Test.<ref name=testlist/> He was out of the team for six months, and missed the remaining three Tests against the West Indies, the three Tests on the tour to South Africa, both series victories to Australia. Many "experts" thought the decision was unjustifiable. Former Australian coach, Bob Simpson, said: "I really feel that Ricky could have been persevered with. He's a fine young cricketer and he'll now have to prove that he's got the tenacity and temperament to go with it."<ref name="Ponting67">Richardson (2002), p. 67.</ref> Ponting's axing meant he had time to regain his form in the Sheffield Shield. Despite struggling at first, he scored twin centuries against South Australia in Hobart, and proceeded to score another ton against Queensland.<ref name="Ponting67"/>

Ponting was selected for the 1997 Ashes tour of England, but did not play in any of the three preceding ODIs. He was not selected for the first three Tests; England won the first, Australia the third, and the second was drawn. Ponting was given three one-dayers and First-class match against Glamorgan to try to push his case for a Test inclusion. He scored a century in the latter, but managed just five against Middlesex in the last match before the Fourth Test. [[Michael Bevan]] was eventually dropped for Ponting, due to poor form and troubles against the short ball.<ref name="Staples67-69">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 67–69.</ref> In his first Ashes Test, Ponting scored his first Test century (127, batting at No. 6).<ref name="Armstrong153"/> He played the last three Tests and ended the series with 241 runs at 48.20.<ref name=testlist/> At the time Australia had a policy of the selecting the same team for ODIs, so Ponting only played in three ODIs in early stages of the 1996–97 season in Australia, scoring 68 runs at 22.66 in December 1996 before being dropped.<ref name=statsguruodi/>

Ponting scored 119 runs at 39.66 in the three-Test home series against New Zealand in 1997–98, including a breezy 73 not out from 85 balls in the second innings of the First Test in Brisbane to help Australia set a winning target.<ref name=testlist/> He then made his first Test century on Australian soil, scoring 105 in the First Test against South Africa at the MCG. He added a fifty in the next match and ended the series with 248 runs at 49.60.<ref name=testlist/> Ponting has his most successful ODI season to date, scoring 462 runs at 57.75 in the annual tri-series, including a 100 against New Zealand and three fifties.<ref name=statsguruodi/> The 100 was Ponting's third ODI century, but Australia had lost all three matches. He scored 76 in the third and deciding final against South Africa, which Australia won. In a brief four-match ODI tour of New Zealand at the end of the season, Ponting scored 76 runs at 25.33.<ref name=statsguruodi/>

===1998 tours of the subcontinent and Ashes===
Just 10 days after their tour of New Zealand, Australia played in a first-class warm-up match in India, ahead of their three match Test series. [[Sachin Tendulkar]] struck a double century in the opening warm-up match as the Australian bowlers struggled to cope with the conditions. Ponting came into the Test series with first-class scores of 53, 37 and 155 behind him. Batting at five and seven in the batting order respectively, he scored 18 in the first innings and two in the second on a "dusty turning track" in the opening Test in Chennai. Despite conceding a 71 first innings lead, Tendulkar struck 155 in India's second innings, as India won by 169 runs.<ref name="Ponting77&78">Richardson (2002), pp. 77–78.</ref> Australia suffered further humiliation in the second Test at [[Eden Gardens]]. India—whom amassed 5/633 in reply to Australia's 233—went onto win by an innings and 16 runs, as Ponting scored 60 and nine.<ref name="Ponting78">Richardson (2002), p. 78.</ref>

Several days after the match, Ponting was thrown out of Equinox night club in [[Kolkata]]. The Indian media reported that Ponting was misbehaving with several women in the nightclub. Ponting was fined $1000 by Australian team management for the incident, and later apologised to staff.<ref name="Ponting78"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/oct/29/cricket.features1 |title=Making the Pitch: He battled his way out of a dead-end town, but alcohol and gambling almost destroyed him. Now Ricky Ponting is the world's best batsman.(29&nbsp;October 2006) |publisher=The Guardian/Guardian News and Media Limited | date=29 October 2006 | access-date=24 March 2010 | location=London | first=Malcolm | last=Knox}}</ref> Ponting later wrote:

{{blockquote|A few of the players wanted to go to a nightspot and so this guy had organised for us to get into a nightclub in Calcutta that was usually restricted to members and special guests. When we arrived at the nightclub this same guy spoke to the doorman. He explained that we were Australian cricketers and after a few minutes, they let us in. What we didn't know was that it was a couples night which meant the only way men could get in was in the company of a female. We were quite happy just hanging out together and having a few drinks, and for me it was a chance to celebrate [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne's]] win in the [[Australian Football League pre-season competition|AFL Ansett Cup final]] in Melbourne. Everyone was having a good time and knocking down a few beers and the next thing I knew I was asked to leave by one of the security guys. I am usually the last one to leave a nightclub and I wanted to stay, and there was a scuffle but that is all there was to it. I didn't realise we were the only single guys there. To be honest I couldn't remember half of what went on during the night because I'd had a skinful but I definitely did not assault women in the nightclub. Thankfully I had enough witnesses to prove it.<ref name="Staples122&123">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 122–123.</ref>}}

In the following Test in [[Bangalore]], Australia won their first Test in India for 29 years, despite 177 not out from Tendulkar, which gave India a slender first innings lead. Ponting scored 16 his only innings as Australia won by eight wickets. He finished the series with 105 runs at 21.00 as the hosts took the Tests 2–1.<ref name="Ponting79">Richardson (2002), p. 79.</ref>

Despite a poor Test series, Ponting's form in ODIs remained strong. In consecutive tournaments in India and [[Sharjah (emirate)|Sharjah]] following the Tests, Ponting scored 467 runs at 51.88. In addition to three fifties, Ponting scored 145 from 158 balls in the Pepsi Cup against [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] in [[Delhi]], equalling [[Dean Jones (cricketer)|Dean Jones]]' Australian record.<ref name="Ponting79"/><ref name="Staples127&128">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 127–128.</ref>
Ponting also had his first confrontation with [[Harbhajan Singh]], an Indian [[off spin]]ner who went on to have much success against him. In the [[1998 Coca-Cola Cup|Coca-Cola Cup]] series ODI against India in April, he and [[Mark Waugh]] put on more than 80 runs in 12 overs before Harbhajan was introduced into the attack. In the spinners second over, Ponting took him for four then lofted him over mid-wicket for six next ball. The following delivery saw Ponting use his feet in an attempt to get to the pitch of the ball but missed the shot and was consequently stumped. After the dismissal the pair clashed verbally. Ponting wrote, "The Sharjah incident was the result of me being over-competitive but it had the potential to get quite nasty. I was really disappointed with the shot I played [to get dismissed] and when I looked up Harbahjan was right in my face giving me the finger [gesturing for Ponting to leave the ground with his index finger] and really mouthing off. Had he been a few more metres away from me I would have not reacted like I did or at the most I would have given him a bit of lip as I walked past. I just over-reacted to the provocation." Both players were consequently fined ($500) and reprimanded by the [[Panel of ICC Referees|match referee]], with Harbhajan also suspended for a single ODI as he was adjudged to have breached the [[ICC Cricket Code of Conduct]].<ref name="Staples126&127">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 126–127.</ref>

On the subsequent tour of [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] less than six months later, Ponting was dropped in favour of [[Darren Lehmann]]. The left-hander was perceived to be a better player of spin and a better prospect on the dry pitches of the [[Indian subcontinent]] than Ponting. In the first Test starting in October, Lehmann scored 98 in [[Rawalpindi]], as Australia won their first Test in Pakistan in 39 years. Ponting's only Test outing was in a high-scoring second Test draw in [[Peshawar]], when he scored 76 not out and 43 as Lehmann was injured. The match saw [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]] equal [[Don Bradman]]'s Australian record score of 334, when he declared Australia's innings overnight on 4/599, despite being not out. Ponting was replaced by Lehmann for the final Test.<ref name="Ponting79&80">Richardson (2002), pp. 79–80.</ref>

In between the Tests and the ODIs, Australia were knocked out of the 1998 Wills International Cup, starting in late October, when they were defeated by India in their opening match. In a knockout based tournament, Tendulkar scored 141 in India's total of 307; meanwhile, Ponting managed a 53 ball 41, in a 44 run defeat. In a tournament hosted in Bangladesh, South Africa were eventual victors, defeating the West Indies in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66165.html |title=3rd QF: Australia v India at Dhaka, Oct&nbsp;28, 1998 &#124; Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> He played in all the following ODIs against Pakistan, which Australia won 3–0. In the final match, Ponting scored 124 not out from 129 balls,<ref name=statsguruodi/><ref name="Ponting79&80"/> as Australia chased down 316 with six wickets to spare.<ref name="ODI Wisden 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151532.html|title=Pakistan v Australia: Third One-Day International |publisher=Wisden Almanack|date=10 November 1998 |access-date=19 September 2009}}</ref> He finished the series with 215 runs at 107.50.

When the Australians returned for the home series against England, Ponting was "in the worst run-scoring groove in his first-class career."<ref name="Ponting84">Richardson (2002), p. 84.</ref> Nevertheless, he was recalled in place of Lehmann, despite the latter's form in Pakistan. This was explained on the basis of "horses for courses"; it was reasoned that Ponting would be more effective against England's pace-oriented bowling attack.<ref name="Ponting85">Richardson (2002), p. 85.</ref> However, Ponting struggled in the first three Tests, scoring 47 runs at 11.75,<ref name=testlist/> and Lehmann regained his spot for the last two matches.<ref name="Ponting85"/> He had played 22 Tests by the end of 1998, with 1,209 runs at an average of 36.63. Ponting was a permanent fixture in the ODI team throughout this period, and scored 322 runs at 46.00 during the Carlton & United (CUB series) series of 1998–99.

During the CUB series, Ponting was involved in a fight outside a pub in [[Kings Cross, New South Wales]], and earned a three match suspension from the national team. He sustained a black eye in the fight.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 June 2009 |title=Ponting banned by board |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ponting-banned-by-board-80202 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990121/02150435.html |title=Indian Express Front Page: Ponting dropped after brawl at nightclub (21&nbsp;January 1999) |publisher=Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Limited |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417015959/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990121/02150435.html |archive-date=17 April 2008  }}</ref> Forced to front a media conference with the black eye, Ponting admitted that he had a "problem with alcohol,"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cricket/news/1999/01/20/ponting_out/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025070238/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cricket/news/1999/01/20/ponting_out/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2012 |title=Hit for Six: Ponting admits he has an alcohol problem (20&nbsp;January 1999) |publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated Limited | date=20 January 1999 | access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> and sought external help to attend to this problem. He also thought that his career was on "thin ice" and he had "overstepped" the mark, along with admitting that the episode may have ended his International captaincy aspirations.<ref name="Ponting85" />

==1999–2002: The road back to the Australian side==
Mark Taylor retired from international cricket on 2 February 1999, and was replaced by ODI captain Steve Waugh.<ref name="Ponting87">Richardson (2002), p. 87.</ref> Lehmann failed to make much impact in the final two Ashes Tests and was dropped for the 1998–99 tour of the West Indies, while Ponting was recalled. Ponting's ability against pace-bowling helped his push for inclusion, as the West Indies typically relied entirely on pacemen. However, he was unable to force his way into the side in the first two tests,<ref name="Ponting88&89">Richardson (2002), pp. 88–89.</ref> with number three, Justin Langer, and number six, Greg Blewett, cementing their places in the side. Before the third Test, Blewett suffered a hand injury and Ponting was recalled into the side. On a pitch that became increasingly flat throughout the day, Ponting—who came to the crease with the score at 4–144—joined Steve Waugh in a 281 partnership. After Waugh survived one of Ambrose's "more threatening spells", he scored 199 and Ponting 104. He "batted with maturity and even temperament associated with the champions of the game", according to Waugh.<ref name="Ponting89">Richardson (2002), p. 89.</ref> Australia collapsed in their second innings to be bowled out for 146, with Ponting scoring 22.<ref name=testlist/> Left with a record run-chase in Barbados, the West Indies won by a single wicket, thanks to an unbeaten Brian Lara century. Australia had to win the Fourth and final Test in Antigua to retain the series, after going down 2–1. Ponting scored 21 and 21 not out in the match, as Australia won by 176 runs.<ref name=testlist/><ref name="Ponting90">Richardson (2002), p. 90.</ref> The following seven-match ODI series was not a success for Ponting, scoring just 74 runs at 14.80 in five matches.<ref name="ODI series averages"/> The series was drawn at 3-all and included a tie.<ref name="Ponting91">Richardson (2002), p. 91.</ref>

===First World Cup success (1999)===
Australia started their [[1999 Cricket World Cup|1999 World Cup]] campaign in England with success against minnows Scotland, before defeats by Pakistan and New Zealand.<ref name="Ponting91"/> Ponting scored, 33, 47 and 49 respectively.<ref name="statsguruodi"/> After the twin defeats, pundits doubted whether Australia could make the semi-finals let alone win the tournament.<ref name="Ponting91"/> Australia then defeated Bangladesh with 30 overs to spare, as Ponting batted out of his usual number three spot for the only time in the tournament. In an attempt to increase the run-rate with pinch hitter [[Brendon Julian]], Ponting scored an unbeaten 18 from 10 balls at number four.<ref name="Ponting92">Richardson (2002), p. 92.</ref> Ponting scored 20, 23 and 36 in the following matches against the West Indies, India and Zimbabwe. In the last match of the Super Six stage of the tournament, Australia were to play South Africa in a match they needed to win to make the semi-finals. South Africa batted first and scored 271, before Australia slumped to 3/48. Steve Waugh joined Ponting in the middle and scored 22 runs in ten overs. Both then agreed increase the scoring in a mid-pitch conversation. South African all-rounder [[Jacques Kallis]] could not bowl because of strained abdominal muscles and the batting pair attacked the replacement bowlers, scoring 82 from 10 overs. They were involved in a 126-run stand until Ponting fell for 69 scored in 110 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Waugh went on to make 120 off 110 deliveries helping Australia win with two balls to spare. The sides met again in their next match, this time in the semi-final at Edgbaston on 17 June 1999. Australia only managed 213, with Ponting contributing a solid 37 from 48 balls. In reply, South Africa started strongly, talking 45 from the first nine overs without the loss of a wicket. However, [[Shane Warne]] dismissed [[Herschelle Gibbs]] and [[Gary Kirsten]] before long and eventually took 4/29 from 10 overs. The last over started with the Africans needing nine runs with one wicket in hand. Lower-order hitter, [[Lance Klusener]], proceeded to score eight runs in the next two balls. Drama followed, as Donald was run-out two balls later, resulting in a tie. Australia qualified for the final because they finished higher than their opposition on the Super Six table. They comfortably accounted for Pakistan in the final, winning by eight wickets, after they were set a target of 132. Ponting scored 24 in Australia's first World Cup win since 1987.<ref name="Ponting:93-95">Richardson (2002), pp. 93–95.</ref> He ended the tournament with 354 runs at 39.33.

Australia soon travelled to Sri Lanka for a three-Test series, which they lost 1–0. Ponting was one of Australia's few effective players during the tour and was Man-of-the-Series, ending with 253 runs at 84.33.<ref name=testlist/> In the First Test defeat at [[Kandy]], Ponting scored 96 and 51, almost half of Australia's match total of 328 runs. They lost the match by six wickets, partly due to being unable to handle the spin of Muralitharan who took eight wickets. The Second Test was severely interrupted by rain and Ponting scored just one in his only innings. He scored 105 not out in the Third Test in Colombo, his only Test century in Sri Lanka. Despite having a perceived weakness against spin, Ponting played Muralitharan the best out of all the Australian batsmen.<ref name="Ponting:97-98">Richardson (2002), pp. 97–98.</ref> He scored 31 as Australia won their inaugural Test against Zimbabwe by nine wickets. In the following ODI series between the respective countries, Ponting scored 288 runs at 57.60 with two fifties.<ref name=statsguruodi/>

Ponting started the 1999–2000 season poorly, with ducks in his first three Test innings in the series against Pakistan, including a pair on his home ground [[Bellerive Oval]]. He ended the run in style, scoring 197 in the Third Test at the WACA. Australia won the series 3–0<ref name="Ponting:99-100">Richardson (2002), pp. 99–100.</ref> and Ponting proceeded to score 125 in the First Test against India at the Adelaide Oval. He finished with an unbeaten 141 in the Third Test at the SCG, the culmination of another Australian whitewash.<ref name=testlist/><ref name="Ponting:100-101">Richardson (2002), pp. 100–101.</ref> Ponting was the leading scorer for the series, compiling 375 runs at 125.00.<ref name="RT Ponting - Tests - series by series list "/> He brought this form into the initial stages of the following [[1999/2000 Carlton United|1999–2000 Carlton United]] ODI series, hitting 32 and 115, before three consecutive ducks. Ponting, however, ended the rut towards the back end of the series, stringing together 53, 43, 33, 50 and 78, as Australia won the tournament. Along with his impressive average of 40.4, Ponting's strike rate (87.06) was the highest of all recognised Australian batsmen.<ref name="ODI series averages"/><ref name=statsguruodi/> Perhaps more importantly, Ponting was selected as temporary vice-captain when Shane Warne was unavailable through injury, strengthening his claim for future higher honours. "It's now apparent to me that I'm one being viewed as a future Australia captain", Ponting acknowledged in his newspaper column. "I think it's fair to say unless I was being considered for a future leadership position in the team then someone with significantly more experience, like Mark [Waugh] would have been given the nod to be the team's vice-captain.<ref name="Ponting:102">Richardson (2002), p. 102.</ref> Despite all his good fortune, Ponting slid into the boundary fence and seriously damaged his ankle during the second final against Pakistan, forcing him to miss the upcoming ODI series' in New Zealand and South Africa. The damaged ligaments required a two-hour operation, with doctors telling him how he would not be able to return to cricket until the next summer. He recovered quicker than expected and by May he returned to the golf course and was given approval to start cricket training.<ref name="Ponting:103">Richardson (2002), p. 103.</ref> He returned to the international scene in August for a three-match ODI series against South Africa in Melbourne's indoor [[Docklands Stadium]]. He made only 60 runs, as the series was tied 1–1, with a tie.<ref name="Ponting:103"/>

Ahead of the first Test of the 2000–01 season in November, Ponting found form while playing for Tasmania. He scored 233 against a strong Queensland bowling team that included [[Andy Bichel]], [[Adam Dale]] and [[Ashley Noffke]]. The innings included 37 boundaries and four sixes, and was so dominant, the next highest score for the innings was 61. In the second and final first-class match Ponting played for Tasmania in the season, he scored a more sedate 187 against New South Wales in Hobart, assuring him a place in the Test side, despite Damien Martyn (who replaced Ponting in the side when injured) scoring two centuries for Western Australia. Ponting was overlooked the ODI vice-captaincy, with Gilchrist given the role; however, Ponting captained a Northern Territory XI against the West Indies in the lead-up to the upcoming series.<ref name="Ponting:104">Richardson (2002), p. 104.</ref> Though not known for extravagant claims, Steve Waugh told a journalist that Ponting could easily be the best batsman in the world, and put him alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. When [[Jamie Cox]] was selected for Australia A, Ponting was selected as captain of Tasmania for a domestic one-dayer against Victoria in December. His men won by nine wickets, with Ponting scoring an unbeaten 64 from 69 balls. Australia white-washed the West Indies 5–0 in the Test series; Ponting scored a modest 242 runs at 40.33, with a high score of 92.<ref name="RT Ponting - Tests - series by series list "/><ref name="Ponting:108-109">Richardson (2002), pp. 108–109.</ref>

===Defeat in India and 2001 Ashes===

Injury aside (he missed a three-Test tour of New Zealand in early 2000 after hurting his ankle in a fielding mishap in an ODI Final at Sydney), his position was now secured. Australia toured India in between February and April for three Tests and five ODIs. Australia had not won a Test series in India since 1969.<ref name="Mark Waugh: The biography 268-271">Knight (2003), pp. 268–271.</ref> Australian captain Steve Waugh began calling this the "Final Frontier".<ref>{{cite news |title=Waugh relishes challenge |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/1171510.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2001 |access-date=22 July 2008 | location=London}}</ref> Australia lost the series 2–1 after winning the first Test,<ref>{{cite web |last=Rutnagur |first=Dicky |date=14 October 2008 |title=The Australians in India, 2000–01 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154127.html |access-date=28 April 2012 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> and Ponting finished with just 17 runs at an average of 3.4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=443;type=series |title=Records / Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2000/01 / Most runs |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=28 April 2012}}</ref> He was dismissed all five times by [[Harbhajan Singh]]. Ponting had a habit of instinctively rocking onto the front foot and thrusting his wrists at Harbhajan's deliveries and was frequently caught in the bat pad positions because of this.

Despite this recent run of poor scores, Ponting was promoted to the key No. 3 position in the Australian batting order at the expense of the dropped [[Justin Langer]], while [[Damien Martyn]] took Ponting's former spot at No. 6, for the very next Test series, the 2001 Ashes tour of England. Ponting began the series poorly, scoring 11,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T1_05-09JUL2001.html |title=1st Test: England v Australia at Birmingham, 5–9&nbsp;Jul 2001 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> 14, 4,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T2_19-23JUL2001.html |title=2nd Test: England v Australia at Lord's, 19–23&nbsp;Jul 2001 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> 14 and 17<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T3_02-06AUG2001.html |title=3rd Test: England v Australia at Nottingham, 2–6&nbsp;Aug 2001 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>—the first four dismissals all to [[Darren Gough]]. In the first innings of the fourth Test, Ponting stood his ground while on 0 after edging to slips and refused to go off the field without a TV replay. Replays revealed that the ball had been grassed and Ponting subsequently went on to score 144 and 72 in the second innings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2001/AUS_IN_ENG/SCORECARDS/AUS_ENG_T4_16-20AUG2001.html |title=4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds, 16–20&nbsp;Aug 2001 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He scored his 216 runs in only 226 balls. In doing so, he repeated his feat in 1997 of returning to form at Headingley. He ended the series with 338 runs at 42.25. Starting with that 2001 [[The Ashes|Ashes]] series he has batted No. 3 in all but four of his Test innings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=2230;class=testplayer;filter=advanced;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1995-12-08;start=2001-07-01;enddefault=2007-01-05;end=2007-01-05;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduleddays=0;scheduledovers=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=bat_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717193813/http://statserver.cricket.org/guru?sdb=player;playerid=2230;class=testplayer;filter=advanced;team=0;opposition=0;notopposition=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1995-12-08;start=2001-07-01;enddefault=2007-01-05;end=2007-01-05;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduleddays=0;scheduledovers=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=bat_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batposition=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow=;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2012 |title="Statsguru" filtered ESPNcricinfo statistics between 1 July 2001 and 2&nbsp;March 2007 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo }}</ref>

The touring New Zealanders were not expected to provide much of a challenge to the in-form Australians during the three-match Test series starting in November. The opening Test in Brisbane, saw the tourists came within 11 runs of victory, before the Test was drawn; partly to do with inclement weather. Ponting scored five and a run-a-ball 32 not out in Australia's second innings, as they pushed for a declaration. After scoring 4, 0 and 0 in his previous Test outings at [[Bellerive Oval]], Ponting broke through with a man-of-the-match performance of 157 not out in the Second Test, before further rain resulted in another draw. The result of the Third Test in Perth was no different, with Ponting scoring 31 and 26. Set a record 440 to win, Australia finished on 7/381 at stumps on the final day, despite half-centuries from Gilchrist and the Waugh twins. He ended the Test season 366 runs at 52.28.<ref name=testlist/>

==2002–2004: Appointment as One Day International captain==

===Appointment as One Day International captain===
[[File:Ricky Ponting helmet.jpg|thumb|150px|Ponting at a training session at the [[Adelaide Oval]] in 2009.]]
Although the Test team had continued to perform well, sweeping [[South African national cricket team|South Africa]] 3–0 in the home series in 2001–02, the One-Day International (ODI) team suffered a slump, failing to qualify for the finals of the [[World Series Cup|triangular tournament]], leading to the dropping of [[Steve Waugh]] from the one-day team in February 2002. Ponting was elevated to the captaincy, ahead of then vice-captain [[Adam Gilchrist]]. The fortunes of the ODI team revived immediately, and Ponting's men won their first series during the tour of South Africa, defeating the team that had won the tournament which ended Waugh's reign.

Following his elevation to the ODI captaincy, Ponting played a prominent role in the Test tour of South Africa. He scored 100 not out to steer Australia to a four-wicket win in the Second Test in Cape Town, bringing up the winning runs with a six from the bowling of [[Paul Adams (cricketer)|Paul Adams]]. He struck 89 in the Third Test and ended the series with 308 runs at 77.25 with a strike rate of 76.48.<ref name=testlist/> Australia entered the seven-match ODI series without both of the Waugh twins.

Ponting was prominent in the 3–0 whitewash of Pakistan on neutral territory in late 2002. He struck 141 in the First Test in Colombo and 150 in the Third Test in Sharjah to end with 342 runs at 85.50.<ref name=testlist/>

===2002–03 Ashes victory and first World Cup success as captain===

[[English cricket team in Australia in 2002–03|England toured]] for the 2002–03 Australian season, and Ponting struck 123 in the First Test in Brisbane. His form continued with 154 in the Second Test in Adelaide, meaning that he had scored four centuries in five Tests.<ref name=testlist/> Australia won the latter match by an innings and Ponting scored 68 in the Third Test in Perth as Australia took an unassailable 3–0 lead. He was unable to pass fifty in the final two Tests and ended the series with 417 runs at 52.12.<ref name=testlist/> Australia won the VB series held between and after the Tests. After the conclusion of the Third Test, Australia's 30-man squad for upcoming [[2003 Cricket World Cup|2003 World Cup]] was announced. Steve Waugh was a somewhat surprising omission, despite being unable to force his way back into the ODI team since being dropped after team disappointment in the [[2001–02 VB Series]].<ref name="2003 World Cup Diary 2-4">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2003), pp. 2–4.</ref> Ponting scored a slow 18 from 30 deliveries in Australia's victory in the opening match of the 2002–03 VB series against England in Sydney. He proceeded to score 119 from 123 balls (nine fours and three sixes) in Australia's second match of the series—again against England, this time at the MCG—sharing an all wicket record Australian ODI partnership of 225 with Adam Gilchrist in the process. Despite a comfortable Australian victory, Warne dislocated his right shoulder while diving to stop a ball.<ref name="2003 World Cup Diary 6-8">Ponting and Murgtroyd (2003), pp. 6–8.</ref> The success continued through the 2002–03 ODI series in Australia. Winning the finals series against England 2–0.

Australia hit trouble on the personnel front in the lead up to the World Cup. Lehmann was handed a seven-match ban for racial abuse, the world's number 1 ranked ODI batsman [[Michael Bevan]] was injured, as was [[all rounder]] [[Shane Watson]], who had to withdraw from the World Cup. At the time, another all-rounder, [[Andrew Symonds]], had been performing poorly and had been heavily maligned by cricket analysts, but Ponting strongly advocated his inclusion. The selectors granted Ponting his wish, although the decision was considered highly controversial, especially with Waugh campaigning for his recall as an all-rounder.

A few days before the tournament started, Australia were in further turmoil, when leading bowler [[Shane Warne]] was sent home after failing a drugs test, and a replacement could not be flown in until after the first match. With Bevan and Lehmann still sidelined, Australia went into their opening match with little choice over their line-up, and Symonds having to play. However, Symonds repaid Ponting's faith with an unbeaten 140 after Australia lost three quick wickets to be in early trouble. Australia beat Pakistan, and gained further momentum by defeating India by nine wickets in less than half their allotted overs in the next match. Symonds continued to put in a series of match-winning performances and continued to be strongly backed by Ponting from then on. Ponting himself performed solidly with 53 against Pakistan and 24 not out, hitting the winning runs to guide Australia home.

He failed to perform in the rest of the group matches including just 2 against [[Namibia national cricket team|Namibia]] and 18 against England in a poor performance which Australia managed to win just. He began the Super Six stage with a massive 114 against Sri Lanka. This innings included 4 sixes and he was very aggressive. He failed in the rest of the Super Six stage and the semi-final against the same opposition (Sri Lanka). In the [[2003 Cricket World Cup#Final|Final]], they met [[India national cricket team|India]], who they had crushed in the group stage. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly controversially sent the Australians in to bat, citing cloud cover, but Ponting's batsmen attacked immediately and put the Indian bowlers under pressure. They went on to score 359–2, a record for a world cup final by over 100 runs. Ponting top-scored with a brilliant 140 not out from 121 balls. India's batsmen could not cope with the target, and were defeated by a record (for World Cup Final matches) 125 runs.<ref name="Armstrong154">Armstrong (2006), p. 154.</ref> "I have had some amazing times and some proud moments in my career, but the events at the Wanderers have topped the lot. Lifting the World Cup alongside 20 other proud Australians ... [It is] without doubt the best moment of my cricketing life."<ref name="World Cup diary 246">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2003), p. 246.</ref> Ponting led his team to a dominant, undefeated, performance in the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]], winning all 11 of their matches.

Ponting was announced as long-term vice-captain in place of Adam Gilchrist for Australia's away series in the Caribbean starting in April 2003.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 3">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 3.</ref> The first Test was not the first time Ponting had been vice-captain of the Australian Test team however, as he was thrust into the role against the West Indies in 2000 and England in 2001—because of injuries to Steve Waugh. Although Gilchrist had not done anything untoward, Ponting was elevated because Australian selectors wanted him to captain if Waugh was to be injured. This was Ponting's third tour to the Caribbean, and he was rested from the only warm-up match ahead of the Tests.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 5">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 5.</ref> Nevertheless, he continued his World Cup form in the First Test, scoring 117 and 42 not out on a slow and low pitch, as Australia won by nine wickets.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 7&8">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 7–15.</ref><ref name="Ponting My First Year 410">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 410.</ref> Ponting scored his first double century (206) in the Second Test, as he and Darren Lehmann shared an Australian third-wicket partnership record of 315 against a weak bowling attack. Australia defeated the West Indies by 118 runs on the final day—retaining the [[Frank Worrell Trophy]].<ref name="Ponting My First Year 21-26">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 21–26.</ref> The Tasmanian's rich vein of form continued in the Third Test, after being rested for a tour match against [[Barbados national cricket team|Barbados]]. He scored 113 before running himself out, as Australia batted first on a pitch at the [[Kensington Oval]] described as the slowest Waugh had played on.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 27-28">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 27–28.</ref> Waugh's men proceeded to take a 3–0 series, with a comfortable nine-wicket victory.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 33">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 33.</ref> Ponting missed the final Test, as Australia conceded the Test record run chase of 418; nevertheless, Ponting was still awarded the man-of-the-series award, after ending the series with 523 runs at 130.75.<ref name=testlist/><ref name="Ponting My First Year 38-39">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 38–39.</ref>

===5,000 Test runs===
{{Main|Bangladesh cricket team in Australia in 2003|Zimbabwean cricket team in Australia in 2003–04}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; width:50%;"
|-
!colspan="7"|'''Test cricket record'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Ricky Ponting/Test Cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;template=results;type=allround|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
|&nbsp;||Matches||Runs||Best||Average||100s||50s
|-
|Home||92||7578||257||56.97||23||5
|-
|Away||71||5360||206||45.81||16||17
|-
|Neutral||5||440||150||55.00||2||7
|}
Ponting then scored 10 and 59 as Australia recorded comfortable innings victories in their inaugural series against Bangladesh, played in [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] and [[Cairns]] in the tropical north of Australia in the winter of 2003. In the third and final match of the ODI series following the Tests, Ponting scored a composed century, as he and [[Michael Bevan]] put on a run-a-ball 127-run stand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/214858.html|title=Australia v Bangladesh: Third One-Day International |publisher=Wisden Almanack|last=Lynch |first=Steven |date=6 August 2003 |access-date=7 September 2009}}</ref>

Australia's cricket summer started in October; a month earlier than usual because of their ODI series in India following their home series against Zimbabwe.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 85">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 85.</ref> Due to the season's early start, many of the Australian players were not match fit. McGrath missed the series with an ankle injury, while there were concerns about whether Australia should be playing Zimbabwe because of [[Robert Mugabe]]'s regime.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 86">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 86.</ref> The first Test started on 9 October in Perth, as Australia started strongly batted first against a Zimbabwean bowling attack that lacked penetration on a flat WACA wicket.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 86&87">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 86–87.</ref> However, Ponting was dismissed leg before wicket for 37,<ref name="Ponting My First Year 87">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 87.</ref> while Hayden went on to break [[Brian Lara]]'s world record Test score of 375.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/3179152.stm |title=Hayden smashes Test record |publisher=BBC News  |date=10 October 2003 |access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> Australia won the Test by an innings and 175 runs on the final day.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 95">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 95.</ref> In the next Test at the SCG Australia fielded an inexperienced team due to injuries and won by nine wickets; sweeping the series 2–0. Ponting struck 169 and 53 not out, and passed 5,000 Test runs during his first innings century.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 99">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 99.</ref> The Australian number three ended the two-match series with 259 runs at 129.50.<ref name=testlist/> In the midst of the lack of public attention and poor crowds, Ponting wrote how he was unsure whether Bangladesh and Zimbabwe should be playing Test cricket.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 105">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 105.</ref>

Australia flew to India two-day after the conclusion of the Zimbabwean series to play in the TVS Cup against India and New Zealand. They opened their campaign on 26 October against India in [[Gwalior]], but were defeated by 37 runs, as Ponting was dismissed for two. Australia played New Zealand in match three of series in [[Faridabad]]. An early 9&nbsp;am start saw New Zealand bowled out for 97, despite Australia bowling 17 wides. Australia comfortably reached the target, losing only two wickets in the process; one of which was Ponting for 12, who felt that he was "in terrible form.".<ref>Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 115–116.</ref> Before Australia's next game, Ponting was named the Wisden International Cricketer of the Year in an award ceremony in Mumbai.<ref>Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 117.</ref> Two days later, the city saw Australia defeat India by 77 runs, helped by Ponting's 31.<ref>Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 118.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66367.html| title = TVS Cup (India) – 4th match – India v Australia | publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date =6 October 2009}}</ref> He continued his run without a large score, managing just 16 in the fifth match of the series against New Zealand; however, Australia won a hard-fought contest.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66368.html| title = TVS Cup (India) – 5th match – Australia v New Zealand | publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date =6 October 2009}}</ref> He regained his form in a victory over New Zealand in match—scoring 52 in [[Guwahati]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/132466.html "Bevan inspires Australia to victory"], ESPNcricinfo, 9 November 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2009.</ref> Ponting improved further against India in match eight in [[Bangalore]]. After Gilchrist scored his first ODI century against India, Ponting scored an unbeaten 108 from 103 balls, to help Australia win by 61 runs. Ponting hit seven sixes and one four, becoming the first batsman to end up with only one four in an ODI century.<ref name="Fourth-innings gladiators and Ponting airborne">[http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/131860.html "Fourth-innings gladiators and Ponting airborne"], ESPNcricinfo, 14 November 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/131815.html "Gilchrist and Ponting power Australia to 61-run win"], ESPNcricinfo, 12 November 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66371.html| title = TVS Cup (India) – 8th match – India v Australia | publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date =9 October 2009}}</ref> Ponting struggled to come to terms with the pitch early, reaching his 50 in 69 balls, before scoring his next 50 in 31 deliveries.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 125&126">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 125–126.</ref> After defeating New Zealand, India qualified for the final against Australia. Batting first in Kolkata, Australia managed 5/235, as Ponting scored 36. India were bowled out for 198, leaving Australia victors by 37 runs.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 130&131&132">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), pp. 130–132.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66373.html| title = TVS Cup (India) – Final match – India v Australia | publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date =6 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="Winning when it matters">[http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/131969.html "Winning when it matters"], ESPNcricinfo, 19 November 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2009.</ref> He finished the series with 296 runs—the third highest run-scorer—at an average of 42.83.<ref name="Ponting My First Year 450">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. 450.</ref>

===Most runs by an Australian in a calendar year (2003)===
{{Main|Indian cricket team in Australia in 2003–04}}

After making 54 and 50 in the rain-drawn First Test in Brisbane, Ponting scored double-centuries in back-to-back Tests against India, in the Second Test at Adelaide (242) and at Melbourne (257, his career high).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T2_12-16DEC2003.html |title=2nd Test: Australia v India at Adelaide, 12–16&nbsp;Dec 2003 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2003-04/IND_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/IND_AUS_T3_26-30DEC2003.html |title=3rd Test: Australia v India at Melbourne, 26–30&nbsp;Dec 2003 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He hit 31 not out in the second innings in Melbourne as Australia levelled the series 1–1 and scored 25 and 47 in the drawn Fourth Test in Sydney to end as the leading run-scorer for the series, with 706 runs at 100.85.<ref name=testlist/> Harbhajan had been sent home after the First Test with an injury to his spinning finger.

Having also scored 206 at [[Port-of-Spain]] earlier in the year, he became only the second player ([[Sir Donald Bradman]] the other) to hit three double-centuries in a calendar year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://statserver.cricket.org/db/ARCHIVE/2002-03/AUS_IN_WI/SCORECARDS/AUS_WI_T2_19-23APR2003.html |title=2nd Test: West Indies v Australia at Port-of-Spain, 19–23&nbsp;Apr 2003 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Ponting's 242 against India at Adelaide is also the highest ever Test score by a batsman whose team was subsequently defeated in the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/stump_bearders/default.stm|title= Test Match Special – Stump the Bearded Wonder No 137|publisher=BBC Sport  | date=22 December 2006 | access-date=4 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref>
After [[Steve Waugh]]'s retirement at the beginning of 2004 following the drawn home series against India, Ponting assumed the Test captaincy. Since 1997 the Australian team has not always had the same captain for Tests and for ODIs, with [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]] and [[Steve Waugh]] being dropped from the ODI team whilst still the Test captain.

==2004–2008: Appointment as Test captain==
{{Main|2004 ICC Champions Trophy|New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2004–05|Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2004–05}}

{{Blockquote|Ricky Ponting was destined to lead his country – I couldn't have handed Australian cricket's ultimate individual honour to a more capable and deserving man. A leader must earn respect and lead from the front, and on both of these counts Punter has undoubtedly excelled. When the one-day leadership duties were passed over to Ricky in South Africa, my main piece of advice to him was, 'Make sure you take care of your own game and maintain your form, because everything else will follow from that.' Since assuming the mantle, Punter has shown himself to be among the top three batsmen in the world in both forms of the game, and has elevated his hunger and desire for runs to a level most can only aspire to.|Steve Waugh writing about Ponting replacing him as Australian captain<ref name="Ponting My First Year ix">Ponting and Murgatroyd (2004), p. ix.</ref>}}
[[File:SRWaugh.png|thumb|left|upright|After [[Steve Waugh]]'s (pictured) retirement at the beginning of 2004 following the drawn home series against India, Ponting assumed the Test captaincy.|alt=Middle-aged man around 30 wearing a [[baggy green]] cap with the Australian coat of arms, Australian blazer, green with yellow stripes, and a cream cricket shirt. He is clean shaven and has brown hair.]]
Ponting started with a 3–0 clean sweep of the Test series in Sri Lanka. Ponting brought Symonds into the Test team on the back of strong ODI form, rather than first-class cricket, replacing [[Simon Katich]], who had scored a century and unbeaten fifty in the last Test. However, this backfired and Symonds was dropped after two Tests. Nevertheless, it was a far cry from Australia's last two Test campaigns in Sri Lanka, which had resulted in a 1–0 and 0–1 results respectively. Individually though, Ponting struggled, especially in comparison to his efforts in 1999. He scored 198 runs at 33.00, his only effort beyond 30 being 92 in the first innings of the Third Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo.<ref name=testlist/>

Australia hosted Sri Lanka for two Tests during the winter, in the tropical north. Ponting missed the victory in the First Test in Darwin due to a family bereavement, and scored 22 and 45 as the Second Test in Cairns was drawn.

Despite their success at World Cups, Australia continued their failure to win the [[ICC Champions Trophy]]. They were knocked out by hosts England in the semifinals in 2004.

After missing most of the tour of India due to injury, Ponting returned for the Fourth Test. By this time, Australia had taken an unassailable 2–0 series lead, his deputy Gilchrist leading the tourists to their first Test series win in India since 1969–70. Leading spinner [[Shane Warne]] injured himself on the eve of the match, which was played on a very dry pitch at the [[Wankhede Stadium]] in [[Mumbai]]. [[Off spin]]ner [[Nathan Hauritz]] and [[leg spin]]ner [[Cameron White]], who were not regular wicket-takers in domestic cricket, were surprise selections ahead of [[Stuart MacGill]] for the tour. The reasoning given by the selectors was that as they intended to play only one spinner—Warne—MacGill was unlikely to play so they would not lose anything by taking some young spinners instead, in order to gain experience. However, it was too late for MacGill to be flown in, and Hauritz played and took 5/103. Ponting made 11 and 12 and Australia lost a low-scoring match in less than two days' equivalent playing time. Ponting was very vocal in criticising the playing surface after the match.

[[File:Ricky Ponting signing.jpg|thumb|right|Ponting signing autographs in Sydney, 2005, before he scored his fourth career double century.]]
Ponting oversaw a successful campaign in the 2004–05 Australian season. They won all five Tests, defeating New Zealand 2–0 and Pakistan 3–0. Ponting scored 145 runs at 72.50 against New Zealand in a winning start to his Test captaincy on home soil. For his performances in 2004, he was named as captain of both the World Test XI and ODI XI by ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/143090.html|title=Rahul Dravid is the ICC's player of the year|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Up to this point, Ponting's prolific form with the bat in 2003 had tapered away following his ascension to the captaincy and he had not made a century in eight Tests, a long period by his standards. In the First Test against Pakistan in Perth, Ponting made 98 in the second innings. Australia went on to crush the visitors by over 400 runs. Ponting struck 62 not out in the second innings as Australia won by nine wickets in the Second Test in Melbourne, and then brought up his maiden century as captain, scoring 207 in the New Year's Test in Sydney, which ended in another convincing nine-wicket triumph. He ended the series with 403 runs at 100.75.

Australia then won a three-Test tour against New Zealand away 2–0. Ponting ended the series in style, scoring 105 and 86 not out in the Third Test win in New Zealand. In his first Test series in the country, he scored 293 runs at 97.66.

===Australia lose an Ashes series for the first time since 1987===
{{Main|2005 Ashes series|ICC Super Series 2005}}

Australia lost to England 2–1 after starting the series as favourites.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 July 2005 |title=It's Australia all the way |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/it-s-australia-all-the-way-213873 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Ponting thus became the first Australian captain since [[Allan Border]] in 1986–87 to lose an Ashes series. The 2005 series was hailed as one of the great Test series, but Ponting faced significant criticism afterwards and his tenure as captain was questioned.<ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=13 September 2005 |title=The moments that made the memories |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-moments-that-made-the-memories-219098 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lillee calls for Ponting sacking |date=14 September 2005 |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/219173.html }}</ref> In his defence, Ponting said that Australia had simply been outplayed and had not stepped up at crucial moments in the matches. He rejected suggestions that [[Shane Warne]] should be captain in his stead.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 September 2005 |title=Ponting defends his position |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ponting-defends-his-position-219241}}</ref>

After the first two matches the score was 1–1, having lost [[Glenn McGrath]] during the warm-up at Edgbaston and falling short of victory by just 3 run. England had the upper hand throughout the third Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]], where Australia needed to bat through the last day to force a [[The result in cricket#Draw|draw]]. Ponting scored 156, the first Australian century of the series, and was dismissed only four overs from the end of the day.<ref>Armstrong (2006), p. 155.</ref> This left Australia nine wickets down but their final pair survived the remaining overs. In the fourth Test at [[Trent Bridge]], Australia again batted poorly and was forced to follow-on. In the second innings, Ponting was well set on a score of 48, and England was in some difficulty due to an injury to key paceman [[Simon Jones (cricketer)|Simon Jones]], when the Australian captain was run out by a direct hit from the substitute fielder ([[Gary Pratt]]). Ponting reacted angrily, directing an abusive tirade at the English support team in the pavilion concerning the liberal use of substitutes as he walked into the Australian rooms. England had routinely used substitutes so that their bowlers could receive massages between their spells, but in this case, Pratt was on the field due to an injury to Jones, who had been taken to hospital and would go on to miss the fifth and final Test match of the series. Ponting was later fined 75% of his match fee by the match referee.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/aug/29/ashes2005.ashes2 |title=Ponting apology as captain and Katich are fined |work=The Guardian |location=UK |first=Alex |last=Brown |date=29 August 2005 }}</ref>

Australia went on to lose the match, despite a spirited fightback with the ball on the last day. Also in this match Ponting bowled six overs, and took his first wicket since March 1999; [[Michael Vaughan]] caught behind by [[Adam Gilchrist]]. The Fifth Test at [[The Oval]] was curtailed by rain and although Australia had the English batsmen in danger on the final day, a rearguard counterattacking partnership by [[Kevin Pietersen]] and [[Ashley Giles]] on the final afternoon secured a draw for the hosts. Thus, the Ashes were lost for the first time in 16 years.

The setback to Australia, and to Ponting as Australian captain, of the 2005 Ashes defeat, was to prove a strong motivation for the Australian camp to improve their standards and overcome any complacency that may have arisen from Australia's being the world's premier cricketing nation for a decade. Prior to the Ashes defeat, Australia's dominance had prompted the ICC to organise a series against a World XI, immediately after the Ashes. Following the Ashes defeat, Australia were expected to struggle against the World XI, but bounced back to whitewash them 3–0 in the ODIs; they also won the only Test easily, Ponting scoring 46 and 54. However, the series was also criticised due to the apparent lack of collective desire of the World XI, who were regarded more as a collection of individuals.

===Twin centuries in 100th Test===
{{Main|2005–06 Chappell–Hadlee Trophy|South African cricket team in Australia in 2005–06}}

[[File:Ricky Ponting.jpg|right|thumb|Ponting during his 124 against Sri Lanka on 12 February 2006 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.|alt=A man in a cricket uniform swinging the bat at a sports ground. A crowd watches in the background.]]

Australia were untroubled during the 2005–06 home season—whitewashing the West Indies 3–0 before defeating South Africa 2–0 in three Tests. They then toured South Africa and recorded a 3–0 whitewash in the Tests. In the series against the West Indies, Ponting scored a century in each innings of the First Test in Brisbane, 149 and 104 not out. In his first Test as captain in front of the Tasmanian public, Ponting managed 17 and 0 not out, and he ended the series with 329 runs at 82.25.

Ponting was in a rich vein of form against the South Africans. After scoring 71 and 53 in the drawn First Test in Perth, Ponting scored 117 on Boxing Day in the Second Test at the MCG. Australia won the match and Ponting scored 120 and 143 not out to end the series and start the New Year with a dramatic win in the Third Test at the SCG. South African captain [[Graeme Smith]] declared on the final morning of a rain-curtailed match and tried to open up the game in a bid to equal the series. He left Australia a target of 287 runs in 76 overs, and Ponting made 143 not out in only 159 balls to secure an eight-wicket win. It was the first time anyone had scored two centuries in their 100th Test and Ponting was named man of the match and man of the series. He had scored 515 runs at 103.00.

For his performances in 2005, he was named once again as captain of the World Test XI by ICC.

===Australia's first Champions Trophy victory===
{{Main|Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2005–06|Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2005–06|2006 ICC Champions Trophy}}

In 2005 Ponting began using cricket bats with a graphite covering over the wooden blade of the bat, as did other players contracted to [[Kookaburra Sport]]. This was ruled by the [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC]] to have contravened Law 6.1, which states that bats have to be made of wood, although they may be "covered with material for protection, strengthening or repair not likely to cause unacceptable damage to the ball". Ponting and Kookaburra agreed to comply, before the series against South Africa.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Cricket/0,,2-9-839_1882874,00.html |title=Ponting's bat illegal – ICC |publisher=News24.com |date=16 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000708/http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Cricket/0%2C%2C2-9-839_1882874%2C00.html |archive-date=1 October 2007  }}</ref>

Australia continued their run in South Africa even in the absence of McGrath for family reasons. Ponting scored 103 and 116 in the Second Test in Durban, making it three Test centuries in consecutive innings at the ground. He ended the series with 348 runs at 58.00. Remarkably his performance at Durban meant that Ponting had scored twin centuries in three separate Tests between November 2005 and March 2006, as part of 1192 runs at 79.5 in nine matches over the same period.

On 12 March 2006 Ponting scored 164 in only 105 balls in the [[Fifth ODI, Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2005–06|5th ODI against South Africa]] in [[Johannesburg]], as Australia made a record total of 434 for 4, only to be beaten by South Africa's 438 for 9.<ref name="JoburgODI">{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=12 March 2006 |title=South Africa win the greatest match of all |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-south-africa-2005-06-212912/south-africa-vs-australia-5th-odi-238200/match-report |work=The Bulletin |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> At the end of the match Ponting was jointly awarded Man of the Match with [[Herschelle Gibbs]]. Ponting was not happy with the performance and once in the dressing rooms delivered "the biggest spray" he hoped to do while captain of Australia.<ref name="Captain Diary 2006 202&203">Ponting and Armstrong (2006), pp. 202–203.</ref>

The Australians moved on to their maiden Test tour of Bangladesh thereafter, and narrowly avoided an ignominious loss in the First Test at Fatullah. After the home side took an unexpected first innings lead, Ponting scored an unbeaten 118 in the second innings to guide his team to a three-wicket win. He scored 52 in the Second Test as Australia won by an innings and took the series 2–0.

Australia won the [[2006 ICC Champions Trophy]] in India, finally winning the ODI tournament that had eluded them despite their World Cup success. After the final in Mumbai, Ponting drew some criticism for appearing to ask BCCI president and Indian cabinet minister [[Sharad Pawar]] to "leave the podium" and pointing towards the exit with his finger, while his teammate [[Damien Martyn]] pushed him gently in the back so that his team could commence celebrations. The issue, while minor, was solved when Ponting issued a formal apology to Pawar.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2006 |title=Pawar yet to get any apology |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/pawar-yet-to-get-any-apology-267271 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 November 2006 |title=Ponting makes peace with Pawar |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ponting-makes-peace-with-pawar-267353 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

For his performances in 2006, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-awards/content/story/266801.html|title=Ricky Ponting takes top honours at glittering ICC Awards night|date=3 November 2006|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> For his performances in 2006, he was named as captain of the World Test XI by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/274468.html|title=Twelve from '06|date=2 January 2007|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

===Ashes regained and 10,000 ODI runs at 2007 World Cup===
{{Main|2006-07 Ashes series|2007 Cricket World Cup|2007 ICC World Twenty20|Australian cricket team in India in 2007–08}}

{{see also|List of batsmen who have scored over 10000 One Day International cricket runs}}

In November 2006, the England cricket team again took on Australia in the first Test of a five Test series that was widely expected to be a tremendous contest between Australia, the top team on the world cricket rankings, and the England team, whose aggregated results over the last few years had it standing second in the rankings. Despite Australia this time having the advantage of playing on its own soil, the England team that had wrested the Ashes from the Australians was expected to be highly competitive.
[[File:Australia regain Ashes 2006.jpg|thumb|The Australian cricket team with a replica of The Ashes urn]]
In the First Test in [[Brisbane]], Ponting top-scored in Australia's first innings with 196 runs, and he followed this up with 60 not out in the second as Australia took the initiative with a commanding win. In the Second Test in [[Adelaide]], Ponting top-scored with 142, helping Australia to a total of 513 in response to England's 6/551. Australia went on to win the match by six wickets after a last day English collapse, Ponting making 49 in the chase. At the conclusion of the match, Ponting's batting average peaked at 59.99. The Third Test played at the [[WACA Ground]] saw another win to Australia by 206 runs to reclaim the Ashes; Ponting made 2 and 75. The 15 months they had been in English hands was the shortest period either nation had held the urn. Further wins in Melbourne and Sydney, made Ponting's team the second team (after [[Warwick Armstrong]]'s Australian team in 1920–21) to win an Ashes series 5–0, and that against what had been thought to be a formidable team, the second strongest cricketing team in the world. Ponting was awarded [[Man of the Series]] for the 2006–07 Ashes series after scoring 576 runs at an average of 82.29 including 2 centuries and 2 half centuries. For his performances in 2006, he was named in the World Test XI by ICC.

Australia then started the ODI series well, qualifying in first place for the final. However, they stumbled and lost 2–0 to England in the finals. Ponting was then rested for the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy ahead of the World Cup, and in his absence, the Australians were whitewashed 3–0, leading to suggestions that his team had slumped just ahead of the most important ODI tournament in world cricket.

Australia left for St Vincent, Australia's venue for its two warm-up matches against Zimbabwe and England on 28 February without Brett Lee because of ankle damage. In the first warmup game against Zimbabwe, Ponting scored just 2 in Australia's 106 run victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/current/match/247446.html |title=Australia v Zimbabwe at Kingstown, Mar&nbsp;6, 2007 &#124; Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> In Australia's second and last warm up game, this time against England, Ponting again failed to make an impact, scoring just 7 before he was bowled by off-spinner [[Jamie Dalrymple]].<ref name="Australia V England, 9 March 2007">{{cite web | title = Australia V England, 9&nbsp;March 2007 | publisher=ESPNcricinfo  | date = 9 March 2007 | url = http://www.cricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/current/match/247454.html | access-date =11 July 2009}}</ref>

Australia started its World Cup campaign with three group matches played at [[Warner Park Sporting Complex|Warner Park]], [[St Kitts]]. Ponting himself began successfully with an innings of 113 from 93 deliveries that included five sixes, as Australia were dominant in 203-run victory against Scotland. Despite scoring just 23 in the next match against the Netherlands, Australia still amassed 358 and proceeded to win by 229 runs. In their next match against South Africa, Australia amassed 377/6—their highest score in World Cups. Ponting also scored 91 from 91 balls, and became the seventh player to score 10,000 ODI runs. Despite South Africa being 160 without loss in the 21st over, they crumbled, losing 9 wickets for just 74 runs.<ref name="Hayden muscles Australia to victory">{{cite news |date=24 March 2007 |title=Hayden muscles Australia to victory |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-2006-07-125929/australia-vs-south-africa-22nd-match-group-a-247478/match-report |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="Hurricane Hayden, and Kallis on the crawl">{{cite news |date=24 March 2007 |title=Hurricane Hayden, and Kallis on the crawl |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/hurricane-hayden-and-kallis-on-the-crawl-287137 |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Australian World Cup treble.jpg|thumb|A large crowd of over 10,000 fans welcome the Australian team on completing the first World Cup hat-trick – Martin Place, Sydney.]]
Australia comfortably qualified for the [[2007 Cricket World Cup Super Eight stage|Super Eights]] with their first match played at the new [[Sir Vivian Richards Stadium]] in [[Antigua]]. Ponting stated that he was not very impressed with the outfield labelling it "ridiculously sandy".
The Australian captain was run out when on 35, with his team amassing 322 mainly thanks to 158 from Hayden. In a match spread out over two days, Australia comfortably defeated the home side by 103 runs.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 March 2007 |title=Bowlers follow Hayden's lead in 103-run win |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-2006-07-125929/west-indies-vs-australia-25th-match-super-eights-247481/match-report |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> In their next match, Australia come up against lowly Bangladesh in another rain interrupted affair. This time the match was shortened to 22 overs a side. In the end Australia won by 10 wickets with Ponting not getting a chance to bat.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 March 2007 |title=Australia storm to ten-wicket win |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-2006-07-125929/australia-vs-bangladesh-29th-match-super-eights-247485/match-report |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> In their next match against England, again in Antigua, Ponting scored a half-century, guiding Australia to a seven-wicket victory.<ref name="Impressive Ponting guides Australia">{{cite news |date=8 April 2007 |title=Impressive Ponting guides Australia |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-2006-07-125929/australia-vs-england-35th-match-super-eights-247491/match-report |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref>
After not getting a bat in Australia's rout of [[Ireland cricket team|Ireland]] in Barbados, Ponting steered Australia to victory in their next match against Sri Lanka in Grenada, with 66 not out. Grenada was again the venue for Australia's final super eights match, this time against New Zealand. Again amongst the runs, Ponting produced a fluent 66 that included seven boundaries, with his team wrapping up their biggest victory of the tournament. With his men now firm favourites for the tournament, they again came up against South Africa in the semi-final. South Africa, who were reeling at 27/5, ended up setting Australia 150 to win. Although Ponting scored 22, Australia easily dispatched South Africa by 7 wickets. He was named as captain of the 'Team of the Tournament' by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/292881.html|title=And the winners are ...|date=30 April 2007|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

For his performances in 2007, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC and ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2007/content/story/328571.html|title=Mainly Aussie|date=3 January 2008|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

===Sydney Test controversy===
{{Main|Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2007–08|2007–08 Chappell–Hadlee Trophy|Indian cricket team in Australia in 2007–08}}

The 2007–08 started a new era for Australia, as McGrath and Warne had both retired at the end of the previous Ashes series. The pair had taken more than 1250 Test wickets between them, and the only three Test defeats that Australia had suffered under Ponting, once against India in Mumbai in 2004 and the two against England in 2005, had all occurred when one of the two were injured. Now that both had gone, critics wondered whether Australia and Ponting could maintain their success with their two main strike weapons absent. Australia had not played a Test since the Ashes, while being involved in 32 ODIs and eight Twenty20 Internationals.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 91">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 91.</ref> The period started well for Australia; winning the first Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs. Ponting struck 56 from 84 balls (seven fours) in Australia's total of 551. The Second Test in Hobart, saw Ponting score 31 (66 balls) and 53 not out (2 fours and a six) in front of his home crowd, as Australia wrapped up the series 2–0. Ponting scored 140 runs at 70 and took three catches.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 316-320">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), pp. 316–320.</ref> For his performances in 2007, he was named as captain once again in the World Test XI by ICC.

[[File:Ricky Ponting toss.jpg|Ponting at the toss for an ODI against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.|100px|thumb]]
However, the series against India was much harder-fought. Australia won the First Test easily, by 337 runs, but the matches thereafter were more difficult. The [[Second Test, 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy|Second Test]] was closely fought and ended in Australian victory minutes before the end of play. This saw Australia equal the world record of 16 consecutive Test wins; Ponting, was part of Steve Waugh side that set the previous record in 1999–2001. However, the cricket was overshadowed by player conduct issues.

After the match ended the stadium erupted in cheering as the Indians walked off the field, and the Australians celebrated their record-equalling win.<ref name="Declaration">{{cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/story/329405.html|title=Kumble questions Australia's spirit|date=6 January 2008}}</ref> The Australian team did not shake hands with Indian players on the field, especially Kumble who was waiting there after the fall of the final wicket.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cricketnews.com.au/michael-clarke/ |title=Michael Clarke |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105072036/http://www.cricketnews.com.au/michael-clarke/ |archive-date=5 January 2009 }}</ref> Though the Australian and Indian teams shook hands before heading into the dressing rooms later, but Kumble, who was batting at the end of the match, showed his displeasure by not shaking hands with the umpires. India expressed their resentment by boycotting the post-match presentation ceremony.
In the post-match press conference, [[Anil Kumble]] summed up his view of the game by stating, "Only one team is playing in the spirit of the game" – a statement that alluded to Australian captain [[Bill Woodfull]]'s leaked private admonishment of English manager Sir [[Pelham Warner]] during the [[Bodyline|1932–33 Bodyline series]]. [[Chetan Chauhan]], India's team manager said his players were "agitated and upset by... the incompetent umpires here... [and hoped] that they will not officiate again in the series". Ponting was questioned over the wrong decision, the racism row, and especially the wicket of Ganguly during which he held his finger up to indicate to [[Mark Benson]] that Ganguly has been caught. Ponting was aggressive towards the Indian journalists, lashing out at them for "questioning my [Ponting's] integrity". The Australian players faced much questioning as a result of the fallout of the incident. The Australian team maintained that they play hard but fair. In regards to the racism issue, Ponting denied he did anything wrong by singularly reporting Harbhajan Singh for being abusive. Ponting stated that he was obligated to refer any incidents of racism to officials as it is widely agreed that racism is unacceptable anywhere in the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/01/08/cricket.tour/index.html?section=cnn_latest |title=Cricket tour on despite race row |publisher=CNN |date=8 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112150815/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/01/08/cricket.tour/index.html |archive-date=12 January 2008 }}</ref> After criticism of the Australian team in multiple media continued, a shocked Ponting promised to ensure that his side's conduct is not seen to be arrogant in future matches.<ref name="clean up">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011164222300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113063911/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stories/2008011164222300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2008|title=Ponting promises to clean up the act|date=11 January 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> [[Peter Roebuck]], a columnist in ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'', branded Ponting as "arrogant" and insisted that be stripped of the captaincy.<ref name="Peter Roebuck">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/arrogant-ponting-must-be-fired/2008/01/07/1199554571883.html|title=Arrogant Ponting must be fired|last=Roebuck|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Roebuck|date=8 January 2008|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location=Sydney}}</ref>

In the early part of the Test series against India, Ponting continued to struggle against Harbhajan, falling to him three consecutive times in the first two Tests. On the third occasion, Ponting was again caught at bat pad, from the first ball that Harbhajan bowled to him, prompting the bowler to celebrate raucously. Harbhajan missed the Third Test and upon his return in the fourth Test, Ponting broke through for his first Test century against India in matches involving Harbhajan, scoring 140. However, the second half of the series was less successful for Australia as a team; India won the Third Test, ending the Australian streak, and the Fourth Test was a high-scoring draw. The Adelaide Test aside, Ponting had an otherwise unproductive season, scoring 268 runs at 38.28.

In the Commonwealth Bank series, Ponting struggled until Australia's last round robin match against India where he and another poor performing Australian batsmen, Andrew Symonds put on a 100 run partnership with Ponting making a hundred and Symonds making 50. Australia won two of their three-round robin matches against the Indians, but the tables were turned in the finals, which the tourists won 2–0.

===Third Australian to score 10,000 Test runs===
{{Main|Australian cricket team in the West Indies in 2008}}

The tour of the West Indies was the first overseas Test series for Australia in 25 months, and the first for Ponting's new look bowling attack.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 257">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 257.</ref> In five previous Test series in 1999 and 2003, he averaged 98.71, with four hundreds. He also averaged 42.80 in 25 ODIs from four tours—1995, 1999, 2003 and the 2007 World Cup.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 250">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 250.</ref> After eight months of consecutive cricket from the World Twenty20, Ponting was surprised about how good he was feeling, despite believing that he would be weary from the amount of cricket he had played.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 249">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 249.</ref>
In the only warm up match before the series—against a Jamaican XI,<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 252">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 252.</ref> the Australians drew controversy from various sections of the media as they chose to wear a sponsors cap over the traditional Baggy Green cap. This was because wicket–keeper [[Brad Haddin]] did not want to receive a Baggy Green as he was yet to play in a Test. The rest of the team decided they wanted to look uniform although they wore their Baggy Greens in Jamaica's second innings.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 254">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 254.</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,23715291-5003413,00.html "Aussie cricketers wear VB cap in West Indian match"], ''The Courier Mail'', 18 May 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009. {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/baggy-green-reclaims-pride-of-place/2008/05/18/1211049064807.html "Baggy green reclaims pride of place"], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 May 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> Ponting scored 17 in the first innings and 20 not out in the second, as a storm prevented an Australian victory.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 256">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), p. 256.</ref>

After winning the toss and electing to bat in the First Test in [[Kingston, Jamaica]], Ponting recorded his 35th Test century and was eventually dismissed for 158 from 224 balls.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/wivaus/content/current/story/351973.html "Sublime Ponting punishes West Indies"], ESPNcricinfo, 12 May 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> Despite forcing their way back into contention, the West Indies were defeated by 95 runs.<ref name="WI 2008 1st Test">{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wivaus/engine/match/319139.html |title=West Indies vs. Australia, Sabina Park, Kingston, July&nbsp;22–26, 2008|access-date=28 August 2009|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In the Second Test, Ponting became the seventh player and third Australian to score 10,000 Test runs. It took Ponting 118 Tests and 196 innings to achieve the feat, one slower than Tendulkar and Lara. He was dismissed in the following over for 65.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/pontings-10000-test-runs-just-the-half-of-it/2008/05/31/1211654373935.html|title=Ponting's 10,000 Test runs just the half of it | agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Brown |first=Alex |date=1 June 2008|access-date=10 December 2009}}</ref> Ponting scored 38 in Australia's second innings, as the match ended in a draw.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 357-358">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), pp. 357–358.</ref> Australia won the third Test,<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 359-360">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), pp. 359–360.</ref> and the Australian captain ended the series with 323 runs at 53.83.<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=3615;type=series "Records/The Frank Worrell Trophy, 2008/Most runs"], ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> Although Australia won the three–Test series handsomely, with a 2–0 margin, they were to face stronger opposition overseas, in the next year. Difficulties were also beginning to appear in the spin department. MacGill, who had taken over 200 wickets in his career despite playing only sporadically due to the presence of Warne, suffered a loss of form and decided to retire during the series. [[Brad Hogg]], the regular ODI spinner had also retired prior to the series, and [[Beau Casson]] made his debut in the final Test.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/354175.html? "Right place, right time"], ESPNcricinfo, 10 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/wivaus/content/story/354316.html "Australia pick Casson for third Test"], ESPNcricinfo, 10 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref>

After not batting in Australia's Twenty20 loss in [[Bridgetown]], Ponting was rested for the [[List A]] 50-over game against the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/wivaus/content/story/355694.html "Watson stars in easy Australian win"], ESPNcricinfo, 22 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> He returned for the first three ODIs and scored just 87 runs at 29.00, notching up his 300th ODI during the 2nd match.<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=3616;type=series "Records/Australia in West Indies ODI Series, 2008/Most runs"], ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ponting-to-notch-up-300-odis-358132 "Ponting to notch up 300 ODIs"], ESPNcricinfo, 26 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.</ref> Ponting scored 69 in the third match, before returning home because of a wrist injury. Under the captaincy of Michael Clarke in the final two games, Australia swept the series 5–0.<ref name="2008 Captains Diary 288 & 289">Ponting and Armstrong (2008), pp. 288–289.</ref>

==2008–2011: Decline in form==

===Mixed team performances===
{{Main|Australian cricket team in India in 2008|South African cricket team in Australia in 2008–09|New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2008–09|Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2008–09}}

In 2008, Ponting led the Australians back to India and was under pressure following the confrontations during the Indian tour of Australia earlier in the year. He acknowledged that he was keen to rectify his poor Test batting record in India. In the First Test on a turning pitch in Bangalore,<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/373030.html "Australia bank on Bangalore factor"], ESPNcricinfo, 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/373034.html "Ponting expects 'good batting surface'"], ESPNcricinfo, 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2009.</ref> Ponting brought up his first Test century in India, 123 on the first day, although he eventually fell leg before wicket to Harbhajan. Australia had the hosts seven wickets down in their first innings, still more than 320 runs in arrears, but India recovered to salvage a draw after a rearguard effort.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/373113.html?CMP=OTC-RSS "Ponting century sets up Australia"], ESPNcricinfo, 9 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/373841.html "Uncharacteristic Tendulkar and Laxman save the day"], ESPNcricinfo, 13 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/373222.html "Hard work pays off for Ponting"], ESPNcricinfo, 9 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2009.</ref>

In the Second Test in Mohali. Australia were defeated by 320 runs and Ponting was criticised for using part-timer bowlers against the free-scoring Indian batsmen in the second innings, because of a slow over-rate, which is can be penalised by a fine, or in severe instances, a ban to the captain. This meant that he was not able to use pace spearhead [[Brett Lee]] significantly.

The Third Test in Delhi saw a flat pitch, where India scored 7/613 in its first innings in which Ponting resorted to bowling himself for two overs. Ponting amassed 87 in Australia's first innings score of 577. The match ended in a draw and Australia needed to win in the Fourth Test in Nagpur to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<ref name="Ponting Captain's Diary 2009 38-39">Ponting and Armstrong (2009), pp. 38–39.</ref> On the fourth afternoon of the Fourth Test, the Indian batting collapsed, and Australia had an opportunity to bowl them out and chase a target of around 250–300 after the tea break.<ref>"Cricket writers and commentators were stunned by what they saw as [Ponting's] efforts to improve Australia's sluggish over rate rather than going for broke to try and win the vital Nagpur Test." "[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtLgZ1cpWeC9J6j0VQHtrJQswR4Q Aussie press slams Ponting tactics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914214059/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtLgZ1cpWeC9J6j0VQHtrJQswR4Q |date=14 September 2010 }}", ''AFP'' 9 November 2008.</ref> However, the Australians were a long way behind on their [[List of cricket terms#O|over rate]], so in order to avoid a one match suspension, Ponting chose to bowl their [[All-rounder|part-time]] spinners and medium pacers such as [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]], [[Cameron White]] and [[Mike Hussey]] (who were all unsuccessful in capturing a wicket), as they took less time. In the meantime, captain [[MS Dhoni]] and Harbhajan both added half centuries. This drew strong criticism from many [[Sportscaster|commentators]], who suggested that their [[Fast bowling|faster bowlers]], who had been responsible for the collapse, could have bowled from a shorter run-up. When the fast bowlers were reintroduced, the last four wickets fell quickly. This left Australia chasing 382 runs for victory and they lost by 172 runs to cede the series 2–0. In the first innings, Ponting became Harbhajan's 300th Test wicket and the Australian captain ended the series with 264 runs at 37.71. While below his career standards, it was substantially better than his previous Test efforts in India.

Fined in India for a slow over rate, Ponting failed to redress the matter during the subsequent [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2008–09|home series against New Zealand]], when match referee [[Chris Broad (cricketer)|Chris Broad]] dealt a second successive fine for being three overs behind in the First Test: Ponting was stripped of thirty per cent of his A$12,750 match fee, twice the punishment of his teammates in accordance with [[International Cricket Council]] rules for captains.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 November 2008 |title=Ponting in more trouble with over-rates |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ponting-in-more-trouble-with-over-rates-379390 |access-date=4 July 2009}}</ref> Australia were largely untroubled by New Zealand, sweeping both Tests. Ponting scored only 100 runs at 33.33.

[[File:Pm cricket shots09 6086 new.jpg|thumb|left|Ponting with [[Brad Haddin]] (left) and [[Nathan Hauritz]] (right) in the Third and final Test against South Africa in Sydney, January 2009]]
In the first Test against South Africa in Perth, starting in December, Ponting again had to reduce his reliance on his preferred pace bowlers, and rely more on spinners due to a slow over rate. His persistent problems with the over rate prompted some commentators to criticise him for spending too much time during the match conferring with bowlers. In the first innings he scored a duck, and managed 32 in Australia's second innings. Ponting's inexperienced attack had trouble dismissing the opposition batsmen, and South Africa made 4/414, the second highest successful runchase in history to win by six wickets on the final day.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/383601.html "de Villiers exorcises demons with record-breaking chase"], ESPNcricinfo, 21 December 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.</ref>

Ponting experienced a form slump for much of 2008, albeit in comparison to his usually high standards. However, he again exceeded 1,000 runs in the calendar year. Ponting scored his 37th century in the first innings of the Second Test against South Africa on Boxing Day, and followed that with 99 in the second innings, seemingly a lone stand against the South African bowling attack.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/384279.html "Ponting bats himself some relief"], ESPNcricinfo, 26 December 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/cricket/ponting-out-for-99-proteas-chase-183/2008/12/29/1230399115721.htmll "Ponting out for 99, Proteas chase 183"], ''The Age'', 29 December 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.</ref> The tourists won the match by nine wickets to win the series. Australia thus lost their first home Test series since 1992–93.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/384734.html "'Rebuilding will take a while' – Ponting"], ESPNcricinfo, 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.</ref> Australia lost the series 2–1, the first time South Africa had won a Test series against Australian since 1970, and the first on Australian soil. Ponting totalled 285 runs at 47.50 for the series.

With the retirement of experienced opening batsman Matthew Hayden—who was replaced by the uncapped 20-year-old [[Phillip Hughes]]—the Australian team that toured South Africa in February, March and April 2009 was its most inexperienced since the defections to [[World Series Cricket]]. This was further compounded by the loss of Andrew Symonds to injury, who was replaced by the uncapped [[Marcus North]]. The bowling attack also required major changes, due to the injuries to [[Brett Lee]] and [[Stuart Clark]]. Subsequently, paceman [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] was the only bowler with more than four Tests heading into the series. Of the First Test team, Hughes, North, [[Ben Hilfenhaus]], [[Peter Siddle]] and [[Andrew McDonald (cricketer)|Andrew McDonald]] had only five Tests between them, with the former three making their debut.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 March 2009 |title=Fresh faces come to the party |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/fresh-faces-come-to-the-party-393132 |access-date=2 April 2010 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Ponting's team took the series 2–1, so Australia maintained their No. 1 Test ranking. Ponting was praised for cobbling together an unexpected win, as South Africa were thought to be stronger on home soil. He scored eighties in the first two Tests, ending with 210 runs at 35.00.

For his performances in 2008, he was named as captain once again of the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/369272.html|title=Ponting leads ODI Team of Year|date=10 September 2008|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

===Second Ashes series loss as captain===
{{Main|2009 ICC World Twenty20|Australian cricket team in England in 2009|2009 Ashes series|2009 ICC Champions Trophy|Australian cricket team in India in 2009–10}}

After losing their opening match of the 2007 World Twenty20 to Zimbabwe, Ponting's men were looking for a more positive start to the 2009 edition in England. They opened their campaign in early June against a West Indian outfit that had recently been whitewashed 2–0 in the Test series against England. However, Ponting made a second ball duck in Australia's seven wicket defeat.<ref name="2009 World T20 1st match">[http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/407810.html "Australia still not at home in newest format"], ESPNcricinfo, 6 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref><ref name="2009 World T20 1st match Bulletin">[http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/407736.html "Gayle and Fletcher blast past Australia"], ESPNcricinfo, 6 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref> They played Sri Lanka in their next match, this time at [[Trent Bridge]] in [[Nottingham]]. Ponting hit five boundaries on his 25 before he was bowled trying the run-rate, before Sri Lanka won by six wickets. The defeat consequently eliminated Australia from the tournament.<ref name="2009 World T20 2nd match Bulletin">[http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/408062.html "Sangakkara and Dilshan dump Australia out"], ESPNcricinfo, 8 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref>

In Australia's two drawn warm-up matches ahead of the [[2009 Ashes series|2009 Ashes]], Ponting struggled to adjust to the English conditions, somewhat, with a highest score of 71.<ref name="Clarke papers over Australian cracks">[http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/content/story/410628.html "Clarke papers over Australian cracks"], ESPNcricinfo, 26 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref><ref name="Tour Match: Sussex v Australians at Hove">[http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/engine/current/match/350038.html Tour Match: Sussex v Australians at Hove"], ESPNcricinfo, 24–27 June 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref><ref name="Tour Match: England Lions v Australians at Worcester">[http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/engine/match/350039.html Tour Match: England Lions v Australians at Worcester"], ESPNcricinfo, 1–4 July 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref> Nevertheless, he started the Ashes series strongly, scoring 150 in the First Test in [[Cardiff]]. In his 38th hundred and eighth in an Ashes series, the Australian number three batsman became just the fourth man to score 11,000 runs in Test cricket.<ref>[http://wl.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25763503-5005402,00.html "Ricky Ponting bowled for 150, short of runscoring record"]{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Perth Now'', 9 July 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref> The match ended in a draw and Ponting drew criticism for failing to bowl fast-bowler [[Ben Hilfenhaus]] while England's last-wicket pair of [[Monty Panesar]] and [[James Anderson (cricketer)|Jimmy Anderson]] were batting to save the match.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/content/story/413487.html "Ponting's batting makes up for captaincy"], ESPNcricinfo, 9 July 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.</ref> Ponting could only manage two and 38, as Australia were defeated in the second Test at [[Lord's]]—their first Test defeat at the venue since 1934. On 31 July, during the Third Test at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]], Ponting became the highest Australian run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, overtaking former Australian captain [[Allan Border]]'s total of 11,174 in his first-innings score of 38. The match was eventually drawn, partly due to poor weather.
{{Blockquote|... It takes three ingredients to make a great player – determination, courage and skill – and he's got all three in abundance. He's also developed into a great leader. Players really enjoy playing for him and that's sometimes a difficult trait to bring out in people. You can tell by the way the team respond to him that his leadership skills are among the finest. Combine this with his batting skill and that's a pretty intimidating package.|Allan Border<ref>''The Examiner'', p. w8, 2 August 2009</ref>}}
[[File:Ponting silly mid-off.jpg|right|thumbnail|Ponting fielding during First Test in Cardiff]]
Australia went on to lose the series 2–1 and Ponting became only the third Australian captain to lose the Ashes twice. Despite not being a selector, Ponting was heavily criticised for Australia not playing Hauritz and his apparent reluctance to put faith in his spinners. He was questioned, particularly on Australia's recent habit of often not playing a specialist/regular spinner. Instances of these were the first three Tests in India, the omission of Krejza for the First Test against New Zealand immediately after taking 12 wickets on debut, and opting for no spinner in the first two Tests in South Africa.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,16417_5424330,00.html|title=StraussvPonting Spoof on Twitter | work=Sky Sports | date=10 July 2009}}</ref>

On 7 September 2009, Ponting announced his retirement from Twenty20 international cricket in order to prolong his career.<ref>{{cite news
|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/07/ricky-ponting-twenty20-retire |title= Ricky Ponting retires from Twenty20 internationals |work= The Guardian |date= 7 September 2009 |access-date= 28 March 2015}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url= https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cricket/a/5952822/ricky-ponting-retires-from-international-twenty20-cricket/ |title= Ricky Ponting retires from international Twenty20 cricket |work= Yahoo |date= 7 September 2009 |access-date= 28 March 2015}}
</ref> He was succeeded as Australian Twenty20 captain by team vice-captain [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]].

Australia came into the [[ICC Champions Trophy|Champions Trophy]] ranked second in ODIs; along with being the events reigning champions.<ref name="More mismatch than rematch">[http://www.cricinfo.com/iccct2009/content/story/426557.html "More mismatch than rematch"], ESPNcricinfo, 26 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.</ref> They opened their campaign against an undermanned West Indian outfit who were without prominent players because of an industrial dispute.<ref name="Under-strength Windies worry Ponting">[http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161536229 "Under-strength Windies worry Ponting"], ''Trinidad News'', 25 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927043750/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161536229 |date=27 September 2009 }}</ref> On a "lively pitch", Ponting top-scored with 79, after reaching his half-century in 63 balls. He hit opening bowler and future nemesis, [[Kemar Roach]], for four boundaries in the seventh over of the match, and scored a six and two fours against the fast-bowler when he was reintroduced into the attack in the 21st over. The innings set up Australia's comfortable 50-run victory.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/cricket/ponting-delivers-a-warning/2009/09/26/1253813656254.html "Ponting delivers a warning"], ''The Age'', 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.</ref> Australia next match against India was abandoned due to rain. Before the weather intervend Ponting had scored 65 from 85 deliveries, before being run out. The result meant Australia needed to defeat Pakistan in their third and final group match for a place in the semi-finals. Though Australia collapsed when Ponting was dismissed for a patient 32 in pursuit of low total they won by two wickets.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/iccct2009/content/story/427082.html "Washout hits India's semis chances"], ESPNcricinfo, 28 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricinfo.com/iccct2009/engine/current/match/415281.html| title = ICC Champions Trophy – 9th match, Group A – Australia v India | publisher=ESPNcricinfo| access-date =3 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="Australia reach semis after thriller">{{cite web |date=30 September 2009 |title=Australia reach semis after thriller |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2009-10-374074/australia-vs-pakistan-11th-match-group-a-415283/match-report |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Australia defeated England by nine wickets in their semi-final, with Ponting scoring an unbeaten 111 from 115 deliveries (12 fours and one six); his 28th ODI century. During the innings, Ponting became the third batsman to score 12,000 ODI runs and was also involved in a record 252-run partnership with Watson—Ponting's seventh double-century stand for Australia in the format; the only player to achieve this feat.<ref name="Ponting and Watson lead the rout">{{cite web |date=1 October 2009 |title=Ponting and Watson lead the rout |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2009-10-374074/australia-vs-england-1st-semi-final-415285/match-report |access-date=19 November 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref name="Refreshed Ponting hits top gear">{{cite web |date=3 October 2009 |title=Refreshed Ponting hits top gear |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/refreshed-ponting-hits-top-gear-428148 |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Despite Ponting's score of only one in the final in Centurion against New Zealand, Australia won by six wickets—their second consecutive Champions Trophy victory.<ref name="ICC Champions Trophy - final - Australia v New Zealand">{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/iccct2009/engine/current/match/415287.html |title=ICC Champions Trophy – final – Australia v New Zealand|publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 November 2009}}</ref><ref name="Watson, bowlers power Australia to title defence">{{cite web |date=5 October 2009 |title=Watson, bowlers power Australia to title defence |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-champions-trophy-2009-10-374074/australia-vs-new-zealand-final-415287/match-report |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Ponting was presented with the golden bat award for most runs in the tournament—288 at an average of 72 in four games—and also received the man-of-the-series award, before praising his young side for the title defence.<ref name="The youngsters won it for us - Ponting">{{cite web |date=5 October 2009 |title=The youngsters won it for us – Ponting |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-youngsters-won-it-for-us-ponting-428608 |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Australia proceeded to tour India for seven ODIs starting in mid-October and ending in early November. In the opening match, Ponting top-scored for Australia with 74 from 85 balls, as his team narrowly escaped defeat.<ref name=statsguruodi/><ref>{{cite web |last=Coverdale |first=Brydon |date=25 October 2009 |title=Australia survive for tense victory |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2009-10-416234/india-vs-australia-1st-odi-416236/match-report |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Ponting made just 12 in India's comprehensive victory in the second match, while he scored a slow 59 from 93 balls (four boundaries) in another Indian victory in the third match.<ref name=statsguruodi/><ref>{{cite web |last=Premachandran |first=Dileep |date=28 October 2009 |title=Big-hitting Dhoni helps level series |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2009-10-416234/india-vs-australia-2nd-odi-416237/match-report |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Veera |first=Sriram |date=31 October 2009 |title=MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh lead India to victory |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2009-10-416234/india-vs-australia-3rd-odi-416238/match-report |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> The Australian captain stuck a more fluent innings of 52, scored in 59 deliveries in the following fixture.<ref name=statsguruodi/> Australia amassed their biggest total of the series in the fifth match, with Ponting contributing a run-a-ball 45. A slow, low, turning wicket was presented to the teams for the sixth ODI in [[Guwahati]]. Ponting fought his way to 25 from 57 balls, before falling to Harbhajan, as Australia comfortably chased down India's total of 170 with six wickets remaining.<ref name=statsguruodi/><ref>{{cite web |last=Veera |first=Sriram |date=8 November 2009 |title=Bollinger and Johnson seal series |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2009-10-416234/india-vs-australia-6th-odi-416241/match-report |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 November 2009 |title='The pitch didn't misbehave' – MS Dhoni |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/the-pitch-didn-t-misbehave-ms-dhoni-433451 |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> The final match in Mumbai was washed out after a cyclone formed over the [[Arabian Sea]]; securing a 4–2 series victory to the injury depleted Australians.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 November 2009 |title=Bad weather washes out dead rubber |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/bad-weather-washes-out-dead-rubber-433907 |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> "It's probably one of the best one-day series I have ever been involved in, with all the injuries and setbacks at the start of this tour", Ponting said.<ref name="Ricky Ponting compares 'special' win to World Cup">{{cite web |date=8 November 2009 |title=Ricky Ponting compares 'special' win to World Cup |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-compares-special-win-to-world-cup-433443 |access-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He ending the series with 267 runs at 44.50.<ref name="RT Ponting - ODIs - series by series list"/>

===Troubles against the short ball===
{{Main|West Indian cricket team in Australia in 2009–10|Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2009–10}}

[[File:Members area and view of ground.jpg|right|thumbnail|Ponting scored the first ever double-century (209) at his home ground Bellerive Oval (pictured) in the Third Test against Pakistan.]]
Leading West Indian batsmen [[Chris Gayle]] and [[Shivnarine Chanderpaul]] returned for the opening Test of the 2009–10 Australian cricket season starting on 26 November in Brisbane, after the industrial dispute was resolved. Ponting scored 55 in an Australian innings victory,<ref name=testlist/><ref name="Australian Team Records page 4">{{cite web |title =Australian Team Records – page 4 |url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;page=4;spanmin1=15+Dec+1995;spanval1=span;team=2;template=results;type=team;view=results | publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date =10 December 2009}}</ref> before many sections of the media attacked the West Indies lack-lustre performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/west-indies-are-now-a-disgrace-says-kim-hughes/story-e6frg7mf-1225805515018|title=West Indies are now a disgrace, says Kim Hughes | publisher=News Limited| work=The Australian| last=Conn |first=Malcolm |date=1 December 2009|access-date=9 December 2009}}</ref> Ponting produced scores of 35 and 20 in the following Test in Adelaide, as the touring side responded to their critics by securing a draw.<ref name=testlist/><ref name="Australian Team Records page 4"/> For the first time since 2002, Ponting slid out of the top ten Test batting rankings—dropping to 12th—as Australia faced the prospect of falling to third in the team rankings if they were not able to achieve victory in the final Test of the series.<ref name="Ricky Ponting out of top ten batsmen for first time since 2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26466866-23212,00.html?from=ireckon_rss|title=Ricky Ponting out of top ten batsmen for first time since 2002 | publisher=News Limited| work=Fox Sports|date=10 December 2009|access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> Matters got worse for Ponting, as former Australian fast-bowler [[Rodney Hogg]] voiced that he should be sacked as captain and replaced with New South Wales leader Simon Katich. He said the team had become a "boys club" and was not preparing adequately for the future.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/rodney-hogg-calls-for-katich-to-take-over-as-captain/story-e6frf9if-1225808404294|title=Rodney Hogg calls for Katich to take over as captain | publisher=News Limited| work=Herald Sun| last=Anderson |first=Jon |date=9 December 2009|access-date=9 December 2009}}</ref> However, former Australian Test opening batsman Justin Langer labelled Hogg's comments as "rubbish", something that was backed by Katich.

In the first innings of the Third and final Test, Ponting was immediately greeted with short pitched bowling. After mis-timing a pull-shot from Roach on his first ball, Ponting was struck on the elbow in the following delivery. After battling through obvious discomfort, Ponting eventually retired hurt on 23 from 25 balls—the only time he had taken such action in his international career. Nevertheless, he did manage to hit two fours and a six from short deliveries in Roach's 12th over.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/ponting-retires-hurt-after-brutal-bowling-from-windies-20091216-kx8d.html|title=Ponting retires hurt after brutal bowling from Windies| agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last= Clarke|first=Tim |date=16 December 2009|access-date=16 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/ponting-off-to-hospital-as-test-heats-up-20091216-kwd4.html|title=Ponting off to hospital as Test heats up| agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 December 2009|access-date=16 December 2009}}</ref> Michael Clarke replaced Ponting at his number three batting position, as the Australia captain did not want to risk further damage to his elbow tendon injury ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne. Nevertheless, Australia collapsed and he eventually came to the wicket at number nine, with Australia at 7/125. The West Indian bowlers again bowled short deliverers to Ponting until he turned one such delivery to short-leg and was dismissed for two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/australia-grabs-two-early-west-indies-wickets/story-e6frg1wu-1225811788652|title=Ricky Ponting fails to stem Australian collapse in Third Test at WACA | publisher=News Limited| work=Perth Now| last=Quartermaine |first=Braden |date=18 December 2009|access-date=11 January 2010}}</ref>

After spending time in a [[hyperbaric chamber]] to increase the speed of his recovery from the elbow injury,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-forced-to-retire-to-hyperbaric-chamber-20091220-l7ia.html|title=Ricky forced to retire to hyperbaric chamber| agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Saltau |first=Chloe |date=21 December 2009|access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> Ponting recovered sufficiently to play in the Boxing Day Test, the opening match of a three-Test series against Pakistan. Despite still being inconvenienced by the injury,<ref name="Ponting still troubled by injured elbow">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ponting-still-troubled-by-injured-elbow-20091229-liqp.html|title=Ponting still troubled by injured elbow | agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Saltau |first=Chloe |date=30 December 2009|access-date=17 January 2010 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> he scored 57 at close to a run-a-ball,<ref name=testlist/> before being dismissed by another short pitched delivery for 12 in Australia's second innings.<ref name="Ponting still troubled by injured elbow" /> The home side went on to win the match comfortably, and Ponting overtook Shane Warne's record of 91 Test victories and surpassing Steve Waugh as crickets most successful Test captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/one-of-our-best-test-wins-ponting-20091230-ljm6.html|title=One of our best Test wins: Ponting | publisher=Fairfax Digital| work=Brisbane Times| last=Gleeson |first=Michael |date=30 December 2009|access-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> Ponting scored 853 runs at 38.77 in 13 Tests in 2009, and scored only one century and seven half-centuries.<ref name="Records  / 2009  / Test matches  /   Most runs">{{cite web |title =Records / 2009 / Test matches / Most runs|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=1;id=2009;type=year | publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date =17 January 2010}}</ref> Nevertheless, his ODI form was more convincing, topping the run-scoring list with MS Dhoni. His 1,198 runs were scored at an average of 42.78, including two centuries and nine half-centuries in 29 matches.<ref name="Records / 2009 / One-Day Internationals / Most runs">{{cite web |title =Records / 2009 / One-Day Internationals / Most runs|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=2;id=2009;type=year | publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date =17 January 2010}}</ref> Ponting was criticised for choosing to bat on a green pitch for the Second Test. Australia were dismissed for 127, and Ponting was re-dismissed from a short ball, this time for a first-ball duck, and many sections of the media called for him to stop playing the hook and pull shots. He fell for only 11 in the second innings, and when Australia lost their eighth wicket, they were only just over 50 ahead. However, a 123-run ninth-wicket partnership between Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle rescued the home-side, helping them win by 36 runs. After being dropped on zero, Ponting scored his fifth double-century in the Third and final Test in Hobart. His innings helped Australia complete a 3–0 series victory.

In the following five ODIs, Ponting could not continue his Hobart form, scoring 125 runs at 25 in the series, boosted by a half-century in the final match; his performances improved in the five ODIs starting soon after against the West Indies. He was named man-of-the-series thanks to his 295 runs at 73.75, including two-half centuries and his 29th ODI century and first in Brisbane during the fourth match.

===2010–11 Ashes defeat===
Australia entered the [[2010–11 Ashes series]] hoping to regain The Ashes from England on home soil as they had four years previously. The First Test in Brisbane was drawn after both sides posted large batting totals. Ponting was [[caught behind]] for 10 in the first innings and 51 not out in the second.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/428749.html|title=England tour of Australia, 2010/11 / Scorecard: First Test|work=Cricinfo |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> A barren run followed in the subsequent three Tests, scoring 52 runs in total as Australia lost the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;template=results;type=allround;view=match|title=Statistics / Statsguru / RT Ponting / Test matches|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Ponting became the first Australian captain to lose an Ashes series in Australia since [[Allan Border]] in 1987. During the Fourth Test Ponting was involved in an on-field argument with umpires,<ref name="Swanton">{{cite news| url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-ashes/ricky-ponting-damaged-his-test-captaincy-retention-chances-in-umpire-spat/story-fn67w6pa-1225976792788 | location=Melbourne | work=Herald Sun | title=Ricky Ponting damaged his Test captaincy retention chances in umpire spat  | date=26 December 2010 | first=Will | last=Swanton}}</ref> and was fined 40% of his match fee, which accounted to around $5,400.<ref name="English">{{cite news |last=English |first=Peter |date=26 December 2010 |title=Ponting fined as the match slips away |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |location=Melbourne |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-v-england-4th-test-melbourne-2nd-day-ponting-fined-as-the-match-slips-away-494231}}</ref> Ponting missed the Fifth Test due to a finger injury, and [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] stood in as Australia's captain.<ref name="SWaugh">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-01-04/waugh-questions-pontings-future/1894340|title=Waugh questions Ponting's future|date=4 January 2011|publisher=ABC News|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Australia's heavy defeat in the series and Ponting's poor run of form caused his position in the team to be questioned. Former Australian captain [[Steve Waugh]] suggested dropping him down the batting order;<ref name="SWaugh"/> others, such as former Australian batsman and South African captain [[Kepler Wessels]], called for him to relinquish the captaincy to focus on his batting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-54075420110111|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106152641/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-54075420110111|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2016|title=Ponting should focus on batting – Wessels|date=11 January 2011|work=Reuters|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref>

Yet, for his performances in 2010, he was named as captain of the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/480086.html|title=Ponting named to lead ODI team of the year|date=6 October 2010|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

===2011 World Cup and resignation as captain===
Ponting retained the captaincy of Australia for the [[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011 World Cup]] in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Australia had won the previous three World Cups and entered the tournament as the world's top-ranked ODI team. Australia qualified for the quarter-finals, although Ponting failed to find form, scoring 102 runs in five innings during the group stage of the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/23/3171323.htm?site=hobart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326181447/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/23/3171323.htm?site=hobart|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 March 2014|title=Ponting to quit after World Cup: reports|date=23 March 2011|publisher=ABC News|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Australia met India in the quarter-finals and were defeated by five wickets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-cricket-world-cup-2010-11-381449/india-vs-australia-2nd-quarter-final-433601/live-cricket-score|title=India beat Australia India won by 5 wickets (with 14 balls remaining) - Australia vs India, ICC Cricket World Cup, 2nd Quarter-Final Match Summary, Report &#124; ESPNcricinfo.com|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=24 March 2011 |access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref> Ponting scored 104, his first century in international cricket in over a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/australia-bat-against-india-as-virender-sehwag-returns/story-e6frg6n6-1226027859784|title=India too good for plucky Aussies in World Cup quarter-final|last=Hodge|first=Amanda|date=25 March 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> After being knocked out of the tournament, Ponting resigned his position as captain at both Test and ODI levels, endorsed [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] as his successor, and indicated his intention to continue playing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/cricket/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=cricket/11/03/29/CRICKET_Ponting_Lead.html|title=Ponting quits and remembers the happy times|date=7 April 2011|publisher=sportinglife.com|access-date=25 January 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2012}}</ref>

==2011–2012: Post-captaincy==
In 2011, Ponting was inducted into [[Australian Institute of Sport]] (AIS) 'Best of the Best'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/awards/best_of_the_best|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323161526/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/awards/best_of_the_best|url-status=dead|title=Australian Institute of Sport 'Best of the Best'|archive-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> He was selected in [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]'s teams for the tours of [[Sri Lanka]] and South Africa in 2011, scoring an important half-century (62) in the fourth innings of the second Test against South Africa in [[Johannesburg]], helping Australia chase down a target of 310 to draw the series 1–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/514030.html|title=Australia tour of South Africa, 2011/12 / Scorecard: Second Test|work=Cricinfo |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref>

In the 2011–12 Australian summer, a disappointing series draw with New Zealand gave rise to calls for Ponting to be removed from the team following perceived underperformances. The selectors resisted the calls, selecting Ponting for the [[Boxing Day Test]]—the first of a [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2011–12|four-Test series]] against India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/coach-mickey-arthur-backs-ricky-ponting-amid-renewed-calls-to-sack-former-skipper/story-e6frg7rx-1226221264809|title=Coach Mickey Arthur backs Ricky Ponting amid renewed calls to sack former skipper|last=Lalor|first=Peter|date=14 December 2011|work=[[The Australian]]|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Ponting scored two half-centuries in Australia's first Test win,<ref>{{cite news |date=1 January 2012 |title=Venue record a boost for India |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-v-india-2nd-test-scg-venue-record-a-boost-for-india-547631 |access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> followed by a century (134) in Australia's first innings of the second Test in [[Sydney]]. The century was his first in Test cricket in almost two years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cricket-india-ponting-idUKTRE8030GN20120104|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106152641/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cricket-india-ponting-idUKTRE8030GN20120104|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2016|title=Ponting scores first test century in two years|last=Mulvenney|first=Nick|date=4 January 2012|work=Reuters|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> His fourth-wicket partnership of 288 runs with Clarke, who went on to make 329 not out, set a new record for the biggest partnership by an Australian pair of batsmen against India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/cricket/12496273/clarke-ponting-produce-record-stand/|title=Clarke, Ponting produce record stand|last=Horne|first=Ben|date=4 January 2012|work=[[The West Australian]]|access-date=25 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20120125224007/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/cricket/12496273/clarke-ponting-produce-record-stand/|archive-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Australia sealed the series win by defeating India in Perth, and in the fourth Test in Adelaide, Ponting and Clarke beat their own record, putting on 386 runs. The partnership was the fourth highest to that point in Australian Test cricket. Ponting's own score was 221.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/clarke-ponting-double-up-in-adelaide-runfest-20120125-1qgw5.html|title=Clarke, Ponting double up in Adelaide run-fest|date=25 January 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> During the innings, he became only the third player and the first Australian (after [[Sachin Tendulkar]] and [[Rahul Dravid]], who were playing in the same match) to pass 13,000 career Test runs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/16696136|title=Ponting reaches 13,000 Test runs|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

==2012: Test retirement==
On [[Australia Day]] 2012 he was appointed as an [[Order of Australia|Officer of the Order of Australia]] for services to cricket and, through the Ponting Foundation, the community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/ricky-ponting-gets-order-of-australia-gong-20120126-1qi56.html|title=Ricky Ponting gets Order of Australia gong|last=Buckle|first=Greg|date=26 January 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> Ponting was promoted to captain in the [[2011–12 Commonwealth Bank Series]] in Australia in Michael Clarke's absence due to injury. However, after only two games as captain he was dropped, having scored only 18 runs in 5 games of the [[2011–12 Commonwealth Bank Series]]. At a press conference thereafter, Ponting conceded, "I don't expect to play one-day international cricket for Australia any more and I'm pretty sure the selectors don't expect to pick me either&nbsp;... I will continue playing Test cricket and I'll continue playing for [[Tasmania]] as well".<ref name="cricinfofeb12">{{cite news |date=21 February 2012 |title=Ponting to play on in Test cricket |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-news-ricky-ponting-to-play-on-in-test-cricket-554635 |access-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

On 29 November 2012 Ponting announced that he would retire from Test cricket after the [[WACA Ground|WACA]] test against [[South Africa]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ponting-quits-test-cricket-20121129-2ahwd.html|title=Ponting quits Test cricket|first=Chris|last=Barrett|newspaper=[[The Age (newspaper)|The Age]]|date=29 November 2012}}</ref>

==2013: Tasmania and Surrey==

After retiring from test cricket, Ponting played out the [[2012–13 Sheffield Shield season|Sheffield Shield]] season with eventual champions [[Tasmania cricket team|Tasmania]]. He was the competition's leading run scorer with 911 runs at an average of 75.91.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/sheffield-shield-2012/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=7544&type=tournament|title=Sheffield Shield, 2012/13 Cricket Team Records & Stats &#124; ESPNcricinfo.com|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> As a result of his prolific form with the bat, he was named the Sheffield Shield player of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/2013/3/20/state-cricket-awards|title=Ponting named Shield Player of the Year|website=Crickey.com.au|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104045033/http://www.cricket.com.au/news/2013/3/20/state-cricket-awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He signed on to play for the English County side [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] during June–July 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/ponting-signs-two-month-deal-surrey/51709|title=Ponting signs two-month deal with Surrey|publisher=Wisden India|date=21 February 2013|access-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203045615/http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/ponting-signs-two-month-deal-surrey/51709|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> His score of 192 on debut against [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] was the highest score by a Surrey batsman on their first class debut for the county. Ponting scored a defiant 169 not out in failing light against [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]] in his final first class innings, ensuring Surrey held on for a draw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/23264370|title=Surrey v Notts: Ricky Ponting hits ton in first-class swansong|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

During the [[Ashes 2013]], Ponting wrote a regular column for the [[Daily Mail]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/RfWl1C7d7GLR8tKrQ7NtlI/Ponting-to-retire-from-all-cricket-later-this-year.html|title=Ricky Ponting to retire from all forms of cricket later this year|date=20 June 2013|website=Livemint.com|access-date=16 November 2021}}</ref>

At the formal opening of the [[Bellerive Oval]] redevelopment in January 2015, it was announced that the new Western Stand would be named the ''Ricky Ponting Stand'' in his honour.<ref name="standnaming">{{cite news|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/sport/tasmanian-cricket-greats-ponting-and-boon-make-eternal-stand-at-blundstone-arena/story-fnj4f7g3-1227192396922|title=Tasmanian cricket greats Ponting and Boon make eternal stand at Blundstone Arena|publisher=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]]|date=21 January 2015|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref> On 9 December 2015 Ponting also unveiled a bronze statue placed at the ground in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBFZ95TFm4I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/XBFZ95TFm4I| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|title=Ponting statue unveiled in Hobart|date=9 December 2015|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Playing style==

===Approach to cricket===

Ponting was known as an aggressive competitor, as manifested in his on-field conduct. According to former Australian captain [[Allan Border]], what you see with Ponting is what you get, and "he wears his heart on his sleeve". Border also noted that Ponting has an abundance of determination, courage and skill.

However, his competitive attitudes could be overly aggressive, pushing the boundaries of cricket etiquette.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.espnstar.com/cricket/icc-cricket-world-cup/news/detail/item598316/Ricky-Ponting:-I-don%E2%80%99t-%27walk%27/| location=India| work=ESPN-StarSport| title=Ricky Ponting Ricky Ponting: Not the best advertisement for sportsmanship in cricket| url-status=usurped| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904035812/http://www.espnstar.com/cricket/icc-cricket-world-cup/news/detail/item598316/Ricky-Ponting:-I-don%E2%80%99t-'walk'/| archive-date=4 September 2012}}</ref> In early 2006, in the [[Chappell–Hadlee Trophy]], Ponting had an on-field argument with umpire [[Billy Bowden]] over signalling a no-ball because not enough players were within the inner circle.<ref name="McArdle">{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/big-yield-on-odd-regret/2008/01/11/1199988590215.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Big yield on odd regret | date=12 January 2008 | first=Brendan | last=McArdle}}</ref> In mid-2006, during a tour of [[Bangladesh]], Ponting was accused of "badgering the umpires until he got what he wanted".<ref name="McArdle"/>

The South African captain, [[Graeme Smith]], described Ponting as the toughest competitor he had ever played against.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/south-africa-captain-graeme-smith-labels-ricky-ponting-the-most-competitive-cricketer-i-have-ever-played-against/story-fn2mcu3x-1226202168997 | location=Sydney | work=Fox Sports | title=South Africa Graeme Smith labels Ricky Ponting 'the most competitive cricketer I have ever played against' | date=22 November 2011}}</ref>

===Batting===
{{Main|List of international cricket centuries by Ricky Ponting}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; width:50%;"
|-
!colspan="7"|'''Ponting's results in international matches'''
|-
|&nbsp;||Matches||Won||Lost||Drawn||Tied||No result
|-
|Test<ref>{{cite web|title=Test matches, career summary|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=1;template=results;type=allround|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> ||168||108||31||29||0||–
|-
|ODI<ref name="odiwins">{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;result=1;template=results;type=batting |title=Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records-most ODI wins |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031110547/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2%3Bfilter%3Dadvanced%3Borderby%3Dmatches%3Bresult%3D1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dbatting |archive-date=31 October 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=One-Day Internationals, career summary|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=2;template=results;type=allround|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref>  ||375||262||96||-||5||12
|-
|T20I<ref>{{cite web|title=Twenty20 Internationals, career summary|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7133.html?class=3;template=results;type=allround|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref> ||17||7||10||–||-||-
|}
Ponting was known as an aggressive right-handed batsman who played a wide repertoire of shots with confidence, most notably the [[Pull shot|pull]] and hook. However, he had some technical weaknesses, such as shuffling across his stumps and being trapped [[leg before wicket]], and thrusting his bat away from his body—especially early in his innings, because he wanted to move forward and across to drive, rather than backwards and across to cut the ball.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=BT Sport|title=Masterclass: KP, Gilchrist, Ponting and Vaughan on the art of attacking batting|date=25 December 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wdT4zzNinI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/2wdT4zzNinI| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|access-date=27 December 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Despite being widely renowned as the best player of the hook and pull shots in the world, Ponting was equally adept on both the front and back foot. However, during the latter stages of his career, the hook and pull shots were often the cause of his dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ponting still won't put away the pull |author=Peter English |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=24 November 2010 |access-date=10 December 2025 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-v-england-1st-test-brisbane-ricky-ponting-won-t-put-away-the-pull-488753 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251210143915/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/australia-v-england-1st-test-brisbane-ricky-ponting-won-t-put-away-the-pull-488753 |archive-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Joy of Six: Ricky Ponting |author1=Andy Bull |author2=Rob Smyth |work=The Guardian |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=10 December 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/nov/30/joy-of-six-ricky-ponting |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131030072932/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/nov/30/joy-of-six-ricky-ponting |archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> He adopted a more traditional V-grip lower down the handle as he was a short batsman who doesn't have natural power on the shot.<ref name=":1" />

He was considered by some observers{{who|date=December 2016}} to have trouble against quality [[Spin bowling|spin]], especially against Indian off spinner [[Harbhajan Singh]], who dismissed Ponting on 13 occasions in international cricket. Ponting had a tendency to rock onto the front foot and thrust his wrists at spinning deliveries, resulting in many catches close to the wicket. Ponting rarely employed the sweep shot against spin, something considered unusual for a top-order batsman. Instead, he looked to use his feet to come down the wicket to spinners, or play off the back foot through the off-side.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
Former West Indian captain, [[Viv Richards]], who was rated as the third best Test cricketer in a 2002 poll by Wisden, said Ponting was his favourite current-day player to watch, slightly ahead of [[Sachin Tendulkar]].

[[File:Ricky Ponting Complete Test Career Record.png|right|thumb|This is the complete graphical representation of the test cricket record of Ricky Ponting. Individual innings are represented by the blue and red (not out) bars; the green line is his career batting average. Current as of 8 January 2019.<ref>{{cite web|author = Howstat|url = http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerProgressBat.asp?PlayerID=2041|title = Ricky Ponting – Test Cricket|access-date =8 January 2019|publisher = Howstat Computing Services|author-link = Howstat}}</ref>]]

===Bowling and fielding===
A right-arm medium bowler who tended to bowl off cutters or faster offspin,<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Starcky1996|title=Ricky Ponting Bowling in His Final Test Match|date=2 December 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki7-RZfi5iU|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> Ponting rarely bowled, although he notably dismissed West Indian batsman Brian Lara in an ODI match and former England captain Michael Vaughan in an Ashes Test in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/4181332.stm|title=England checked by Aussie revival |publisher=BBC |date=25 August 2005 |access-date=2 July 2015}}</ref> He was also ceremonially asked to bowl in his final test match against South Africa in 2012.<ref name=":0" /> He was, however, rated one of the best fielders in the world. He usually fielded in the slips, cover and silly point. His good eye and accurate throws often saw him run batsmen out with direct hits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-south-africa-2012/content/story/594363.html|title=Australian cricket's soul, mate|work=Cricinfo |date=29 November 2012|access-date=29 November 2012}}</ref>

===Captaincy===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; width: 40%; font-size: 90%;"
|-
!colspan="8"|'''Record as captain'''
|-
|&nbsp;||Matches||Won||Lost||Drawn||Tied||No result||Win %
|-
|Test<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Test Captains |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=1;id=2;type=team |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212319/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/india/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=1%3Bid%3D2%3Btype%3Dteam |archive-date=16 October 2015  }}</ref> ||77||48||16||7||0||–||62.34%
|-
|ODI<ref>{{cite web |title=List of ODI Captains |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=2;id=2;type=team |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927204001/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=2%3Bid%3D2%3Btype%3Dteam |archive-date=27 September 2015  }}</ref> ||229||164||51||0||2||12||71.62%
|-
|Twenty20<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Twenty20 Captains|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=3;id=2;type=team|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922073742/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/individual/list_captains.html?class=3%3Bid%3D2%3Btype%3Dteam|archive-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> ||17||7||10||0||0||–||41.18%
|-
|colspan=2|''Date last Updated:''
|colspan=8|2 September 2015
|}
Ponting has often been criticised for his lack of imagination in his captaincy, though many players who played under him say he is a good leader. According to former Australian opening batsman Justin Langer, "He is quite inspirational as a leader and I just never get all the detractors he has. Whether it's in the fielding practice, the nets, the way he holds himself off the field—every time he speaks, these young guys just listen, they hang on every word he says."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brearley |first=Mike |date=2011-01-02 |title=The Ashes 2010–11: Ricky Ponting – great batsman, flawed captain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jan/02/the-ashes-2010-11-ricky-ponting |access-date=2024-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

"Ponting captained 2 consecutive World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007 (out of Australia's hat-trick of World Cups – 1999, 2003, 2007)"<ref name="Langer backs Ponting as captain">{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/langer-backs-ponting-as-captain-20091210-km2i.html|title=Langer backs Ponting as captain | agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Vaughan |first=Roger |date=10 December 2009|access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="SMHKatich">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/katich-backs-ponting-and-says-criticism-of-his-captaincy-is-unjustified-20091211-kolk.html|title=Katich backs Ponting and says criticism of his captaincy is unjustified | agency=Australian Associated Press| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Jackson |first=Ed |date=12 December 2009|access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref>

==Career best performances==
{|class=wikitable style="font-size:100%"
|-
!rowspan="2"|
!colspan="4"|Batting
|-
!Score
!Fixture
!Venue
!Season
|-
|'''[[Test cricket|Test]]'''
|align="center"|257
|[[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] v [[India national cricket team|India]]
|[[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG, Melbourne]]
|align="center"|2003<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 26–30 December 2003 - India tour of Australia, 2003/04 – Australia v India">{{cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64061.html|title= India tour of Australia, 2003/04 – Australia v India Scorecard|date=30 December 2003|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[One Day International|ODI]]'''
|align="center"|164
|[[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] v [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|[[Wanderers Stadium|Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg]]
|align="center"|2006<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 12 March 2006 - Australia tour of South Africa, 2005/06 - South Africa v Australia">{{cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/238200.html|title= Australia tour of South Africa, 2005/06 – South Africa v Australia Scorecard|date=12 March 2006|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Twenty20 International|T20I]]'''
|align="center"|98[[not out|*]]
|[[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] v [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|[[Eden Park|Eden Park, Auckland]]
|align="center"|2005<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 17 February 2005 - Australia tour of New Zealand, 2004/05 - New Zealand v Australia">{{cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/211048.html|title= Australia tour of New Zealand, 2004/05 – New Zealand v Australia Scorecard|date=17 February 2005|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[First-class cricket|FC]]'''
|align="center"|257
|[[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] v [[India national cricket team|India]]
|[[Melbourne Cricket Ground|MCG, Melbourne]]
|align="center"|2003<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 26–30 December 2003 - India tour of Australia, 2003/04 – Australia v India"/>
|-
|'''[[List A cricket|LA]]'''
|align="center"|164
|[[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] v [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|[[Wanderers Stadium|Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg]]
|align="center"|2006<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 12 March 2006 - Australia tour of South Africa, 2005/06 - South Africa v Australia"/>
|-
|'''[[Twenty20|T20]]'''
|align="center"|98[[not out|*]]
|[[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] v [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|[[Eden Park|Eden Park, Auckland]]
|align="center"|2005<ref name="ESPNcricinfo - 17 February 2005 - Australia tour of New Zealand, 2004/05 - New Zealand v Australia"/>
|}

==Records and achievements==

Ponting was the [[Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World]] in 2003 and one of the five [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]] for 2006.<ref name="wisden5">{{cite press release
  | title = Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year
  | publisher = ESPNcricinfo
  | url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/current/story/209422.html
  | access-date = 27 January 2008}}</ref> He has been the [[Allan Border Medal]]ist a record four times in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009 (with [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]). Ponting has won the award of Australia's best Test player in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and Australia's best One Day International player in 2002 and 2007.<ref name="allanborder">{{cite press release
  | title = Ponting scoops Allan Border Medal
  | publisher = ESPNcricinfo
  | date = 14 February 2004
  | url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/136685.html
  | access-date = 27 January 2008}}</ref>

* First batsman to score centuries in ODI cricket against all Test playing nations (Afghanistan and Ireland were not awarded Test status in Ponting's playing period).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/5-players-who-have-scored-odi-centuries-against-all-test-playing-nations?imgid=70647|title=Ponting becomes first to score centuries v all test playing nations|date=25 November 2015|work=sportskeeda}}</ref>
* Ponting, along with [[Shane Watson]], holds the record for the highest partnership for any wicket in the ICC Champions Trophy (252 [[not out]] for the second wicket).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_for_any_wicket.html?id=44;type=trophy|title=Highest partnership by runs in ICC Champions Trophy|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?id=44;type=trophy|title=Highest partnership for each wicket in ICC Champions Trophy|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>
* Ponting's score of 242 against India is the highest individual Test innings in a losing cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64060.html|title=2nd Test: Australia v India at Adelaide, Dec 12–16, 2003 – Cricket Scorecard – ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282863.html|title=Records – Test matches – Batting records – Most runs in a match on the losing side – ESPNcricinfo|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>
* He was awarded the [[Allan Border Medal]] by the [[Cricket Australia|CA]] in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.<ref name="cricketaustralia.com.au">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/about/awards-and-events/australian-cricket-awards|title=Australian Cricket Awards &#124; Cricket Australia|website=Cricketaustralia.com.au|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419042457/https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/about/awards-and-events/australian-cricket-awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year|ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year:]] 2006
* [[Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy|ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year:]] 2006, 2007
* [[ICC Men's Test Team of the Year|ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year:]]  2004 (c), 2005 (c), 2006, 2007 (c)
* [[ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year|ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year:]] 2004(c), 2006, 2007(c), 2008 (c), 2010(c)
* [[Sheffield Shield#Player of the Year|Sheffield Shield Player of the Year]]: [[2012–13 Sheffield Shield season|2012–13]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-20 |title=Ponting named Sheffield Shield player of the year |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-named-sheffield-shield-player-of-the-year-625846 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>
He was named an [[Australian Legends|Australia Post Legend]] of Cricket in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia Post honours Australian Living Legends of Cricket|url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/australia-post-honours-australian-living-legends-of-cricket|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Australia Post Collectables|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410222115/https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/australia-post-honours-australian-living-legends-of-cricket|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Coaching==

=== 2014–2017 Various Coaching Roles ===
[[File:2018.02.03.20.00.53-Punter Ponting (40385539852).jpg|thumb|Ponting during the 2017–18 Tri-Series]]
Ponting coached the [[Mumbai Indians]] of the Indian Premier League from 2014 to 2016, helping them win a championship in the [[2015 Indian Premier League|2015 edition of the IPL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-10 |title=Ricky Ponting named Mumbai Indians Indian head coach for Indian Premier League |url=https://heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-ponting-named-mumbai-indians-indian-head-coach-for-indian-premier-league/news-story/967bd2da5cb7cc2d7999d7e6f93ee12a |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref> On 1 January 2017, Ponting was named an interim coach for Australia's [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2016–17|T20I series against Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ponting to join Australia's coaching staff for SL T20Is |work=ESPNcricinfo |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-named-assistant-coach-for-sl-t20is-1074976 |access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> Ponting joined the Australian cricket coaching team as an assistant for the [[2017–18 Trans-Tasman Tri-Series]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Martin|title=Ponting named assistant for T20Is|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ricky-ponting-australia-t20-twenty20-assistant-coach-darren-lehmann-tri-series-new-zealand-england/2018-01-09|website=cricket.com.au|access-date=2 April 2018|date=9 January 2018}}</ref>

=== 2018–2024 Delhi Daredevils/Capitals Head Coach ===
Ponting was appointed as the new coach of [[Delhi Capitals|Delhi Daredevils]] of the [[Indian Premier League]] on 3 January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 4, 2018 |title=IPL 2018: Ricky Ponting appointed Delhi Daredevils head coach |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/ipl-2018-ricky-ponting-appointed-delhi-daredevils-head-coach/articleshow/62368241.cms |website=Times of India}}</ref> In the [[2018 Indian Premier League|2018 edition of the IPL]], Delhi Daredevils finished last place. Ponting helped foster a new team environment, helping young talents such as [[Shreyas Iyer]] and [[Rishabh Pant]] grow. In 2019, Delhi (now [[Delhi Capitals]]), finished in 3rd place, a large improvement from their previous season. In 2020, Delhi would finish second, and in 2021 Delhi would finish in third place being the only team to qualify for the playoffs in 2019, 2020 and 2021, subsequently. In 2024, Ponting was sacked as the coach of Delhi Capitals in favour of Former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly.

=== 2024–present Punjab Kings Head Coach ===
Ricky Ponting has been appointed head coach of [[Punjab Kings]] (PBKS) from [[Indian Premier League|IPL]] 2025,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2025-ricky-ponting-appointed-punjab-kings-head-coach-1449547 | title=Ponting appointed Punjab Kings head coach }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://fantasykhiladi.com/news/ipl-2025-ricky-ponting-appointed-as-new-head-coach-punjab-kings/|title=IPL 2025: Ricky Ponting Appointed as New Head Coach of Punjab Kings|access-date=2024-09-18|work=FantasyKhiladi|date=18 September 2024 }}</ref> a little over two months after he and [[Delhi Capitals]] parted ways ending his seven-year tenure at the franchise.Ponting will be the sixth head coach in seven seasons at Punjab, who finished ninth in the 2024 season

=== 2024–present Washington Freedom Head Coach ===
Ponting was appointed as the new head coach of [[Washington Freedom (cricket)|Washington Freedom]] ahead of the second season of [[Major League Cricket]] on 6 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ponting confirmed as Washington Freedom head coach in Major League Cricket |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ricky-ponting-confirmed-as-washington-freedom-head-coach-in-major-league-cricket-1420050 |access-date=6 February 2024 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> The two-year signing was confirmed by the team on social media. The team won the tournament under his coaching and captain Steve Smith.

==Books==
Throughout his career in international cricket, Ponting has been involved in the writing of a number of diaries on Australian cricket, which depict his experiences during the cricketing year. The books are produced with the help of a [[ghostwriter]]. His autobiography, Ponting: At the Close of Play, was published and released in November 2013.<ref>[http://www.harpercollins.com.au/book/index.aspx?isbn=9780732291822 Ponting: At the Close of Play by Ricky Ponting]. Harpercollins.com.au. Retrieved on 23 December 2013.</ref>

* {{Cite book |title=Ricky Ponting |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Peter Staples |publisher=Ironbark Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-330-36117-0}}
* {{Cite book |title=Ricky Ponting's World Cup Diary |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7322-7847-2}}
* {{Cite book |title=My First Year |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7322-7848-9}}
* {{Cite book |title=Ashes Diary |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7322-8152-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2006 |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7322-8153-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2007|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7322-8153-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2008|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7322-8491-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2009|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7322-8957-7}}
* {{Cite book |title=Ponting: At the Close of Play|author=Ricky Ponting |publisher=[[HarperSport]]|year=2013 |isbn=9780732291822|title-link=Ponting: At the Close of Play }}

==Personal life==

Ponting is a passionate supporter of the [[North Melbourne Football Club]]. When touring with the Australian cricket team, Ponting would call friends at home to listen to the Kangaroos play. He helped raise more than $300,000 for childhood cancer support through a cricket game organised between North and Hawthorn, and in 2024, Ponting Wines became the official wine partner of the club.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/why-an-investment-banker-with-roos-blood-in-his-veins-stormed-into-john-elliott-s-office-with-a-cheque-20250605-p5m5bg.html | title=North Melbourne powerbrokers: Who has Roos blood? | date=12 June 2025 }}</ref>

==Sources==
* {{Cite book |title=Ricky Ponting|author=Nick Richardson |publisher=Legend Books |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-877096-13-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=Ricky Ponting |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Peter Staples |publisher=Ironbark Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-330-36117-0}}
*{{cite book|first=Ken| last=Piesse|author-link=Ken Piesse |year=1999| title=The Taylor Years: Australian cricket 1994–99 |isbn=978-0-670-88829-0|publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin Books Australia]]}}
*{{Cite book|last=Knight|first=James|title=Mark Waugh: The biography|year=2003|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-0-00-715454-8 }}
* {{Cite book |title=World Cup Diary |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7322-7847-2}}
* {{Cite book |title=My First Year |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7322-7848-9}}
*{{Cite book | first=Geoff | last=Armstrong | year=2006 | publisher=New Holland Publishers | isbn=978-1-74110-439-4 | title=The 100 Greatest Cricketers | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/100greatestcrick0000arms }}
* {{Cite book |title=Ashes Diary |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Brian Murgatroyd |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7322-8152-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2006 |author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7322-8153-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2007|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7322-8153-3}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2008|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7322-8491-6}}
* {{Cite book |title=Captain's Diary 2009|author=Ricky Ponting |author2=Geoff Armstrong |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Australia |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7322-8957-7}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cricinfo|id=7133}}
*[http://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/38/ricky-ponting Ricky Ponting] at [[Cricbuzz]]
*{{Sport Australia Hall of Fame|ricky-ponting}}

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