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Images: The end of Ricky Ponting’s defiance

Nov 29, 2012   (8 images)

Ricky Ponting may be having trouble scoring runs currently, but there is no doubt that he is one of the greatest Test batsman the world has seen. When he announced his retirement on Thursday, his Test record stood at 13366 runs in 167 matches which consists 41 hundreds and 62 fifties. He is the second highest all-time run-scorer in Tests, with only Jacques Kallis having a realistic chance of overtaking him (he is 425 runs behind). Ponting was known for his typical Aussie traits on and off the field... and he retired like one — on his own terms.

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Ponting’s first Test century couldn’t have come against a better opponent. He smashed 127 against England in Leeds during The Ashes and Australia went on to win the match by an innings and 61 runs. Getty Images

 

Ponting was near flawless in home conditions. Here he is in action against Pakistan in Perth, where he just fell short of a double-ton (197). He then had to wait for three-and-a-half years before he could score 200-runs in an innings. Getty Images

 

Leeds was a good hunting ground for Ponting. This image is from his innings of 144 in 2001, where he scored at a strike rate of 93.50. It consisted of 20 fours and three sixes. Getty Images

 

Finally, the double-century came. And it came against West Indies at the Port of Spain in 2003. Ponting spent 491 minutes at the crease — patient if you compare his other big innings. Getty Images

 

Even though India fared pretty well in the 2003 series, Ponting decimated their bowling attack and scored two double-centuries in the process. Here he is, blowing a kiss to his wife after smashing 242 in Adelaide. Getty Images

 

He followed up the 242 at Adelaide by an innings worth 257 in Melbourne. The Border-Gavaskar trophy 2003 was an exciting contest and ended at 1-1. Getty Images

 

Ponting has scored three centuries in South Africa. Here he is, on his way to 116 which set the tone for a thumping win for Australia at Durban. Getty Images

 

For all his heroics against India in Australia, the former captain could score only one century while visiting the country — 123 at Bangalore in 2008. He visited Bangalore in 2010 too, scoring 72 and 77. Getty Images