Ricky Ponting has done it all during his decorated cricket career, but the 37-year-old will experience something new this Christmas.
For the first time ever, Ponting will be able to join forces with his two young daughters to assemble a Christmas tree during the holidays.
Over the past 13 years, the Christmas period has been a busy one for Ponting, with the Tasmanian forced to bunker down in Melbourne each December to prepare the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
But with Ponting set to hang up the baggy green after the current Test against South Africa in Perth, his four-year-old daughter Emmy can’t wait to help her dad put up a Christmas tree at home later this month, with her one-year-old sister Matisse also set to join in on the fun.
“We’ve been in Melbourne for the past 12 years in a hotel on Christmas day,” Ponting’s wife Rianna told Channel Nine.
“So as soon as he decided he was announcing the retirement, we made new plans for Christmas.
“We’re doing a Christmas tree. I’m just so excited. It’s such an exciting time for us.”
Ponting will still play out the summer with Tasmania, but is yet to announce what his future holds beyond that.
However, it’s the task at hand that is consuming the veteran batsman right now.
Australia will need to produce a world record run chase in Perth if they are to beat the odds and taste victory against South Africa in the third Test.
Ponting made just four in an anti-climactic first-innings knock, but is confident of producing the goods when he bats again.
After all, Ponting is renowned for unleashing his best when the chips are down.
At the 2003 World Cup, Ponting led his side to the title despite the forced withdrawal of leg-spinning great Shane Warne and injured paceman Jason Gillespie.
“Yeah I was certainly confronted with a few challenges there,” said Ponting, who made an unbeaten 140 in Australia’s 125-run win over India in the final.
“They (Warne and Gillespie) were two of the three players I nominated as being our match-winning players.
“Looking back, that was a very proud moment in my career as a captain and as a player to be able to stand up on the big stage.
“They are the games you want to stand up in.
“As my career’s gone on, especially in the last couple of weeks, I haven’t been able to capitalise on those things, and that’s when it starts to be time (to contemplate retirement).”
Ponting said the simple contest between bat and ball was all the inspiration he needed to fuel his hunger throughout his 18-year international career.
