Former Australian Test Cricket Captain, Ricky Ponting, has been the latest sporting star down under to be honoured with his very own stamp.
Australia Post Philatelic Group Manager Mr Michael Zsolt said:
“Australia Post is delighted to be able to celebrate the career of one of our true champions and this special stamp pack is a wonderful memento of a sporting career spanning almost 20 years.”
Ricky Thomas (“Punter”) Ponting was born in Launceston, Tasmania in 1974 and played his first match for Tasmania in November 1992 at just 17 years of age. He was destined to become one of the greats of world-class cricket and played his first One Day International (ODI) game in 1995. Ponting debuted in the Australian Test side against Sri Lanka in Perth with a healthy score of 96. He became the Australian One Day International captain in early 2002 and Test captain in early 2004.
After 168 Tests and 375 ODIs, Ponting is Australia’s leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket. He is one of only three players in history to have scored 13,000 Test runs.
Ponting is the most successful captain of all time, with 48 victories in 77 Tests between 2004 and 31 December 2010. He is also the only cricketer to be involved in 100 Test victories.
Ponting played his last cricket Test on 3 December 2012 in Perth against South Africa, retiring with a Test batting average of 51.85. His appearance equalled the Australian record held by Steve Waugh.
The special commemorative stamp pack honouring Ponting contains 20 x 60c stamps in full colour and is available from Australia Post.
