Editing Ricky Ponting (section)

==1974–1995: Early life==
{{Main|Early life of Ricky Ponting}}

===Birth and personal life===
[[File:Cricketer Ricky Ponting and Rianna Ponting (24079181379).jpg|thumb|Ponting with his wife Rianna in 2016.]]
Born in [[Launceston, Tasmania]], on 19 December 1974, Ricky Ponting is the eldest of Graeme and Lorraine Ponting's 3 children. Graeme was "a good club cricketer" and played [[Australian rules football]], while Lorraine was a state [[vigoro]] champion.<ref name="Ponting18-20">Richardson (2002), pp. 18–20.</ref> His uncle [[Greg Campbell (cricketer)|Greg Campbell]] played Test cricket for Australia in 1989 and 1990. Ponting's parents first lived in [[Prospect, Tasmania|Prospect]] {{convert|4.1|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of city centre; however, they moved into the working-class area of [[Newnham, Tasmania|Newnham]], {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of central Launceston.<ref name="Ponting20">Richardson (2002), p. 20.</ref>

After marrying his long-time girlfriend, law student Rianna Cantor, in June 2002, Ponting credited her as the reason for his increased maturity.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zr2UoCV1c4 Ricky Ponting – Australian Story.] ABC TV.</ref> The couple have three children.<ref name="Emmy">{{cite news | title = Baby Emmy a cure for Ponting's trophy woes |work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 27 July 2008 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/baby-emmy-a-cure-for-pontings-trophy-woes/2008/07/26/1216492801742.html | access-date =13 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="Matisse">{{cite news | title = Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna welcome baby daughter Matisse Ellie |work=The Daily Telegraph | date = 8 September 2011 | url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/former-australian-captain-ricky-ponting-and-his-wife-rianna-welcome-baby-daughter-matisse-ellie/story-e6frey50-1226132161919 | access-date =9 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="Fletcher">{{cite news | title = DSEG on Twitter | date = 24 September 2014 | url = https://twitter.com/DSEGWorldwide/status/514684024120672257 | access-date =25 September 2014}}</ref>

===Junior ranks===
Introduced to cricket by father Graeme and uncle [[Greg Campbell (cricketer)|Greg Campbell]],<ref name="Ponting18">Richardson (2002), p. 18.</ref> Ponting played for the [[Mowbray Cricket Club|Mowbray]] Under-13s team at the age of 11 in 1985–86. In January 1986, he took part in the five-day annual Northern Tasmania junior cricket competition.<ref name="Ponting21">Richardson (2002), p. 21.</ref> After scoring four centuries in a week, bat manufacturer [[Kookaburra Sport|Kookaburra]] gave Ponting a sponsorship contract while in just eighth grade mainly on the back of these four centuries. Ponting took this form into the Under-16s week-long competition less than a month later, scoring an even century on the final day.<ref name="Ponting22">Richardson (2002), p. 22.</ref> Ted Richardson, the former head of the Northern Tasmanian Schools Cricket Association said: "Ricky is certainly the equal of [[David Boon]] at this level.<ref name="Ponting22"/>

Australian Rules football was also a big part of Ponting's sporting life, and is a keen follower of the [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne Kangaroos]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beveridge|first1=Riley|title=Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/your-afl-clubs-most-famous-supporters-from-barack-obama-to-cam-newton/news-story/03eb54659866d587cf9c2cc4b9f3d8c5|website=Fox Sports|access-date=29 January 2016|date=29 January 2016}}</ref> In 2024, Ponting’s Wine brand (Ponting Wines) announced a partnership with North Melbourne<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=North Melbourne partners with Ponting Wines |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1496277/north-melbourne-partners-with-ponting-wines |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=nmfc.com.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ponting Wines Joins Forces with North Melbourne Football Club |url=https://www.pontingwines.com.au/blogs/ponting-wines/ponting-wines-north-melbourne-football-club?srsltid=AfmBOoowOoDzRYCwItIJ-BD1dy9PoXb6XhmlZSLaSkPAu-mVSF4gp0Kx |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Ponting Wines |language=en}}</ref> During the winter he played junior football for [[North Launceston Football Club|North Launceston]] and up until he was 14, it could have become a possible sporting option. This was before he broke the [[humerus]] in his right arm playing for North Launceston Under-17s as a 13-year-old. Ponting's arm was so badly damaged, it had to be pinned.<ref name="Staples12">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 12.</ref> Told to endure a 14-week lay-off, he never played competitive football again.<ref name="Ponting24">Richardson (2002), p. 24.</ref>

During Tasmanian [[Sheffield Shield]] matches at the [[NTCA Ground]] (Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association Ground), Ponting helped out with the scoreboard, thereby surrounding himself with international cricketers.<ref name="Ponting25">Richardson (2002), p. 25.</ref><ref name="Staples10">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 10–11.</ref> After leaving school at the end of year 10 in 1990, he began work as a groundsman at [[Scotch Oakburn College]], a private school in Launceston. In 1991 the Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association sponsored Ponting to attend a fortnight's training at the [[Australian Cricket Academy]] in Adelaide.<ref name="Ponting26">Richardson (2002), p. 26.</ref><ref name="Staples32">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 13.</ref> The two weeks turned into a full two-year sponsorship as he was said to be the best 17-year-old batsman Academy coach [[Rod Marsh]] had ever seen.<ref name="Ponting27">Richardson (2002), p. 27.</ref>

Playing five games for Tasmania for the 1992 Under-19 carnival in [[Perth]], Ponting scored 350 runs, earning him selection in the 13-man national Under-19 development squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa—the first Australian cricket team to make an official tour to the country since [[Bill Lawry]]'s team in 1970.<ref name="Staples30&31">Ponting and Staples (1998), pp. 30–31.</ref><ref name="Staples35">Ponting and Staples (1998), p. 35.</ref>

===Early Australian domestic career===
Ponting made his [[First-class cricket|first-class debut]] for Tasmania in November 1992, when just 17 years and 337 days old, becoming the youngest Tasmanian to play in a [[Sheffield Shield]] match. However, he had to wait until 1995 before making his ODI debut, during a quadrangular tournament in New Zealand in a match against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]. His Test debut followed shortly after, when selected for the first Test of the 1995 home series against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] in Perth, in which he scored 96. He lost his place in the national team several times in the period before early-1999, due to lack of form and discipline, before becoming One Day International captain in early-2002 and Test captain in early 2004.
After scoring 114 not out in club match against [[Riverside Cricket Club (Tasmania)|Riverside]], Ponting became the youngest player to appear for [[Tasmanian Tigers|Tasmania]] in a [[Sheffield Shield]] match, breaking Boon's record by 14 days.<ref>Richardson (2002), pp. 30–31.</ref> In November 1992, with Ponting just 17 years and 337 days, he went to the crease at number four against [[Southern Redbacks|South Australia]] at the [[Adelaide Oval]].<ref>Richardson (2002), p. 31.</ref> Despite scoring 56 in a 127-run partnership with Boon, he could not prevent a defeat, scoring just four in Tasmania's second innings.<ref name="Ponting32">Richardson (2002), p. 32.</ref> In his first match in Tasmania, this time against [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]], Ponting contributed 32 and 18 in a draw. He followed this up with 25 against [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]] in a narrow loss. His first match in Sydney also marked the debut of future Australian opening bowler [[Glenn McGrath]]. His subsequent century also meant that Ponting became the youngest Tasmanian to score a first-class century at 18 years and 40 days, eclipsing Boon's record of 19 years and 356 days.<ref name="Ponting32"/> After scoring another half century, Ponting scored back to back centuries against Western Australia on Australia's fastest wicket in [[WACA Ground|Perth]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/256252.html Has the WACA pitch lost its shine?], ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 August 2009</ref> He became the youngest batsmen in Shield history to score twin centuries in a match. After setting a goal of scoring 500 runs in the season, he ended up scoring 781 at 48.81. After season's end, Ponting played seven four-day games for the Australian Academy, scoring 484 runs at 96.70, even though he was still only 18.<ref name="Ponting34">Richardson (2002), p. 34.</ref>

Speculation ignited that Ponting was an outsider to join the Australian squad on their [[Australian cricket team in England in 1993|1993 tour to England]]. Despite Ponting's reluctance to weigh into the debate, Tasmanian coach [[Greg Shipperd]] thought he could handle the experience.<ref name="Ponting34&35">Richardson (2002), pp. 34–35.</ref> The selectors ended up choosing Western Australian batsman [[Damien Martyn]] for the tour, with Ponting selected in the academy squad captained by [[Justin Langer]], which toured India and Sri Lanka for seven games in August–September 1993. Australian success was limited, with only several wins. No batsman scored a century, despite Ponting reaching 99 not out in a one-day game in [[Colombo]]. He finished the tour second highest in the aggregates, behind Langer.<ref name="Ponting35">Richardson (2002), p. 35.</ref>
Before the start of the 1993–94 Sheffield Shield season, Ponting stated that he wanted to score 1000 runs for the season.<ref name="Ponting35"/> In Tasmania's final match of the season, they needed to defeat South Australia outright to qualify for the final. Set 366 in 102 overs, Ponting scored 161 in a 290-run partnership that ended with Tasmania needing just 41 runs for victory. Despite Tasmania losing four quick wickets, they won with four wickets in hand.<ref name="Ponting36">Richardson (2002), p. 36.</ref><ref>[http://acscricket.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58683.htmll South Australia v Tasmania, 17–20 March 1994] {{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref> Disappointingly for Ponting, he could not repeat the performance in the final against New South Wales, scoring just one and 28, as Tasmania were defeated by an innings and 61 runs.<ref>[https://www.inningsbreak.com/final-sydney-march-25-29-1994-sheffield-shield/ New South Wales v Tasmania, 25–29 March 1994] {{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Innings Break. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref> The season saw Ponting score 965 runs at 48.25, close to his 1000 run goal.<ref name="Ponting36"/><ref name="Ponting143">Richardson (2002), p. 143.</ref>

A month after the final, he was again selected for the academy squad for three limited overs matches against a touring Indian team. Queenslander [[Stuart Law]] captained the Australian side that included former Australian keeper [[Rod Marsh]]. In Australia's victory in [[Canberra]] he top scored with 71 and before scoring 52 in victory in Sydney. The last match was also successful for the home team, with Ponting not required to bat.<ref name="Ponting37">Richardson (2002), p. 37.</ref>

Ponting started his 1994–95 campaign with a century against eventual Shield champions Queensland in Brisbane, impressing Queensland captain [[Allan Border]], "He's just an outstanding prospect", Border said.
Speculation again arose that Ponting could become a candidate for the upcoming [[History of cricket in the West Indies from 1990–91 to 2000#Australia 1994–95|tour to the West Indies]]. When Tasmania played Western Australia at [[Bellerive Oval]] on 4 November 1994, Ponting scored 211. The century was his fifth successive against Western Australia; [[Sir Donald Bradman]] is the only other batsman to score five consecutive centuries against another state in Shield history.<ref name="Ponting38">Richardson (2002), p. 38.</ref> Ten days after the double century, Ponting was named in the Australian XI to take on [[England cricket team|England]] at [[Bellerive Oval]]—in a match that was used as practice before the upcoming series in the West Indies. Future Australian representatives [[Matthew Hayden]], Langer, [[Greg Blewett]] and Martyn were also selected. In a drawn match Ponting compiled a half-century.<ref name="Ponting40">Richardson (2002), p. 40.</ref>

A fourth team was introduced to the [[World Series Cup]] in 1994–95—[[Australia A cricket team|Australia A]]—for the only time. Australian captain [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]] was not a fan of this change as many fans supported Australia A rather than the national team. Despite the negative feedback it gave Ponting a chance on the international stage.<ref name="Ponting40&41">Richardson (2002), pp. 40–41.</ref> Playing for Australia A, he scored 161 runs at 26.83 with one half-century.<ref>[http://acscricket.com/Archive/Scorecards/58/58703.html World Series Cup in Aust. Dec 1994/Jan 1995 – Batting Averages] {{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 August 2009</ref>