Ton-up for Ponting
As Ricky Ponting steps out on the Sydney Cricket Ground for his 100th Test, Cricinfo looks back at a rollercoaster career marked by brilliant innings and the odd scruff with destiny.
Cricinfo staff
01-Jan-2006
As Ricky Ponting steps out on the SCG for his 100th Test, Cricinfo looks back at a rollercoaster career marked by brilliant innings and his progression to Australia's captaincy
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December 3, 1996 - Is dropped after the second Test against West Indies at Sydney where he makes only 9 and 4. One match earlier he scored 88 against the same opposition in his first match at No. 3.
July 24, 1997 - Returns to the Test team with a bang at Headingley, batting at No. 6 and scoring his maiden century with 127. With Matthew Elliott he lifts Australia from 4 for 50 to 9 declared for 501.
December 27, 1997 - Scores his first hundred at home, a fine 105 against South Africa at the MCG.
December 15, 1998 - Is replaced by Darren Lehmann after making 5 and 10 in the third Test against England at Adelaide
January 17, 1999 - Goes nightclubbing after a one-day match against England and early the next morning is photographed with a black eye after being punched outside a Sydney bar. Receives a three-match ban and $5000 suspended fine and admits to a drinking problem.
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March 27, 1999 - Reaches a century on his return to the side for the second time with 104 against West Indies in the third match in Barbados. Ponting shares a record fifth-wicket stand for Australia against West Indies of 281 with Steve Waugh, breaking a 44-year-old mark.
September 9, 1999 - A boy-on-the-burning-deck innings, Ponting makes 96 against a rampaging Murali and Vaas , the only Australian score above 50, and in the second innings when everybody else fails, makes another half-century. He goes on to hit an unbeaten 105 in the third and final Test at Colombo, his first Test century in the subcontinent and bags the Man of the Series award.
November 27, 1999 - After three consecutive ducks, Ponting posts his highest score so far with 197 against Pakistan at the WACA.
February 4, 2000 - Ponting injures his ankle when sliding into the boundary fence at the SCG while fielding in a one-day final against Pakistan. The injury forces Ponting out of the tour of New Zealand and a three-match one day series in South Africa.
March 22, 2002 - First game as one-day captain after replacing Steve Waugh. Scores 14 as Australia beat South Africa in Johannesburg by 19 runs
June 22, 2002 Marries Rianna Cantor, a 23-year-old law student in Sydney.
March 23, 2003 - Leads Australia to World Cup victory over India with a magnificent 140, which includes four fours and eight sixes.
February / March, 2001 - Makes 17 runs in five innings in the series against India, raising questions about his play against high-quality spin.
August 16, 2001 - Under pressure after a poor run, he responds with 144 at Headingley and his position hasn't been in danger since.
November 23, 2002 - Records hundreds in three consecutive Tests with 154 against England in Adelaide to follow 123 in Brisbane and 150 against Pakistan at Sharjah.
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December 28, 2003 - Joins Bradman as the second player to score three double-centuries in a calendar year with 257 against India at the MCG. He reached 242 in the previous match and 206 against West Indies in April, helping him to 1503 runs at 100.2 for 2003. His performances would win him the 2004 Allan Border Medal.
March 8, 2004 - Captains Australia for the first time in a Test after replacing Steve Waugh. Reaches 21 and 28 as Australia win by 197 runs at Galle.
September 21, 2004 - Breaks his finger fielding in the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to England, ruling him out of the first three Tests of the historic India series and signalling an end to Australia's dominance over England.
January 3, 2005 - Posts first century as captain almost a year after taking over from Steve Waugh and makes it a double with 207 against Pakistan at the SCG. It is his 18th innings and 10th Test as leader.
September 12, 2005 - Becomes the first Australian captain since Allan Border in 1986-87 to lose the Ashes with the 2-1 result at The Oval.
December 26, 2005 - Hits his 26th Test century , 117 against South Africa and joins Sir Garfield Sobers on the all-time list. "It was a special innings for me - I was pretty proud of the way I played today," Ponting says.
December 30, 2005 - Finishes 2005 with a career-best 1544 runs for the calendar year, including 117 in the second Test against South Africa at the MCG.
January 2, 2006 - Due to play 100th Test match.