Punter's magnificent seven

127 v England, Headingley, 1997
This innings marked Ponting's return to Test cricket after he was dropped the previous summer. Ponting, a 22-year-old in his seventh Test, came to the crease at 4 for 50 with the Ashes on the line. He produced a classic innings full of flowing cover drives and his trademark pull shot. Combining with Matthew Elliott (199), the pair put on a 268-run stand to set up an Australian victory.

197 v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Perth, 1999-2000
Coming off the back of three consecutive ducks - including a pair at Bellerive Oval - Ponting took on Wasim, Shoaib and Co. without owning a run for the series. With Australia in trouble at 4 for 54, he produced a chanceless 197, sharing a 327-run stand with Justin Langer (144) to put his side in another winning position.

206 v West Indies, 2nd Test, Port-of-Spain, 2003
The first of four double-centuries, Ponting joined Darren Lehmann on day one and manufactured another dominant performance. The pair put on 315 as Lehmann scored his maiden Test hundred (160) and Ponting smashed 24 fours and a six to the delight of the small Australian contingent in the crowd. Wisden's Andrew Miller described Ponting as "batting with an authority scarcely rivalled in Test history".

Ricky Ponting celebrates his maiden double hundred while 'batting with an authority scarcely rivalled in Test history' © Getty Images

242 v India, 2nd Test, Adelaide, 2003-04

Much of the talk prior to the Border-Gavaskar Series focused on the clash between Sachin Tendulkar and Matthew Hayden to establish the world's dominant batsman. Ponting took little notice of the hype and put his own name in lights with a brilliant display that was the highest score by a player in a losing Test side.

257 v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 2003-04
Ponting broke his own highest-score-against-India record two weeks later and joined Bradman as the only Australians to score double-centuries in successive Tests. He also became only the second player - alongside Bradman again - to post three double-centuries in a calendar year.

207 v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Sydney, 2004-05
After his record-breaking run in 2003, Ponting failed to reach three figures in a Test in 2004. With questions being raised about the pressure of the captaincy, Ponting returned to his dominant best, joining Bradman and Greg Chappell as the only Australians to score four double-centuries in Tests. Ponting and Adam Gilchrist (113) put on 153 for the fifth-wicket to take the match away from Pakistan and seal a 3-0 win.

156 v England, 3rd Test, Old Trafford, 2005
"Ricky Ponting led from the front as all influential leaders should," Steve Waugh said of Ponting's century which secured a game-saving draw. "In time he will look back and see this as his graduation as a Test captain." Ponting stood firm for almost seven hours before falling just 24 balls from the end. His determination was rewarded when Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath held out.