Sachin Tendulkar, the batting genius, may have left the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting way behind in what not long ago looked to be a hot race for the highest number of century makers in Test history. But, the great Australian has surely ensured his own place in the history – scoring a century of centuries with a difference. For, Ponting has the unique distinction of representing Australia in which his national team had won 100 Test matches, of the 153 he played in all.
In a way, Ponting's wonderful feat is also a tribute to his efficacy and longevity at the highest level even after 16 years of international cricket. The run-flow might have dried up a bit in recent months. But, Ponting still has an impressive array of statistics that bear testimony to his greatness.
At 36, it is an indisputable fact that Ponting still comes up with that typical boyish enthusiasm on the field. He was a leader who believed in leading by example - evident by the 34 consecutive wins in World Cup history.
Contemporary Test cricket has almost become synonymous with the fabulous achievements of elder statesmen (unintentionally involved in some sort of a race for scoring maximum of Test centuries) like Sachin (38 years, 181 Tests, 51 centuries, 14965 runs), Rahul Dravid (38 years, 157 Tests, 12,275 runs, 35 x 100s), Jacuqes Kallis (35 years, 145 Tests, 11947 runs, 40 x 100s) and Ricky Ponting (36 years, 153 Tests, 12,411 runs, 39 x 100s).
“Sachin has been playing for close to 20 years now. This is the trademark of a great player. He set many benchmarks which are difficult for others to follow. But, I love to play for another six years,” Ponting said when he was in Hyderabad in 2009.
Ricky Pontings' Century of Centuries' should ensure a place in the ‘Hall of Fame' for him.
