Ricky Ponting’s Recessional – Spectator Blogs

With the Don at three and Keith Miller inked for the all-rounder’s role at six there are only two open spots in Australia’s all-time middle order. It is a measure of Ricky Ponting’s greatness that no-one doubts he’s a sensible, worthy contender for one of those places. You may prefer the claims of Clem Hill, Charlie McCartney, Stan McCabe, Neil Harvey or Greg Chappell, but Punter is undoubtedly part of the conversation and only a fool would scoff at including him in this Fantasy XI.

That’s how good he was. In England I fancy there’s sometimes a tendency to forget how fine a batsman Ponting was and instead place a little too much emphasis upon his captaincy. We sometimes forget how important luck is in cricket. If Glenn McGrath had not twisted his ankle; if Michael Kasprowicz had not been given out – understandably but, in fact, erroneously – at Edgbaston, the Australians might well have retained the Ashes during that monumental 2005 series.