If Ricky Ponting’s international record was stunning, the Sheffield Shield career that could end this week is nothing short of astonishing.
Ponting will line up for a 70th Shield match for Tasmania when they attempt to sneak into the final with a win over Victoria at Bellerive.
The former Test captain’s 69 matches so far have yielded 26 centuries, 21 half-centuries and an average of 61.34.
At Bellerive, his average is 67.48.
At Test level, Ponting averaged an imperial 51.85 in 168 games with 41 hundreds.
The Tasmanian hierarchy is unsure whether the 38-year-old will extend his stay but are hopeful off-season stints with the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians and county side Surrey will dovetail into another state campaign.
“I’m no wiser as to what he wants to do next year,” Tigers captain George Bailey told reporters on Wednesday.
“Obviously he’s going to play a lot of cricket over winter.
“We’d certainly love to have him and we’ve expressed that as often as we can and we’ll continue to do so.”
Ponting pulled the plug on his international career in December and has since warmed to the Twenty20 game with the Hobart Hurricanes and topped the Shield run-scoring list with 685 at 85.62.
He made 200 not out against NSW in the Tigers’ last home game and will have his mind firmly on the one trophy missing from his cabinet, a competition win with Tasmania.
“I’m not sure where he’s at with his thinking and whether getting to a (Shield) final or winning a final will play any part or have any bearing on what he’ll do next year,” Bailey said.
The match could also be the last at the helm for Tigers coach Tim Coyle, who will move on at season’s end.
The state’s most successful coach, Coyle guided Tasmania to their first Shield title in 2006-07, another in 2010-11 and two one-day cups.
Bailey said preparation for the match was business as usual despite the possibility of high profile departures.
“If you start getting too sentimental or worrying about those things before the time is appropriate, then you lose your focus,” he said.
First-placed Victoria and the fourth-placed Tigers both need outright wins, the Bushrangers to ensure their spot in the final and Tasmania to be a chance of sneaking in.
International bowler Clint McKay (foot) has been replaced by Ryan Sidebottom in the Bushrangers’ squad.
Tasmania: George Bailey (capt), Harry Allanby, Luke Butterworth, Mark Cosgrove, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting, Jordan Silk, Jon Wells (12th man TBA).
Victoria: Cameron White (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, David Hussey, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Will Sheridan, Ryan Sidebottom, Marcus Stoinis. (one to be omitted, 12th man TBA).