Mark Taylor had an animated Greg Blewett engulf him in a bear hug, Steve Waugh his little red rag tucked safely in one pocket, and Ricky Ponting a mouthful of dirt. The image of Ponting coming up with dirt smeared across his jersey and trousers, spitting dirt from his lips, can be rightfully placed alongside the iconic images of Edgbaston 1997 and Sydney 2003.
In June 1997, Taylor entered the first Test of the Ashes summer in England not having scored a century for 18 months and 21 innings. From November 1995 to the start of the 1997 Ashes, he had averaged just over 25 and was being hauled over the coals by every former Australian player with a platform. Continue reading below
Before the first Test at Edgbaston, Taylor swore he would relinquish the captaincy if he failed again. After a first-innings 7 it appeared he would have to. But then, with Australia facing a first-innings deficit of 360, Taylor produced a career-saving century of monumental courage and purpose. It wasn't pretty – he was beaten numerous times outside off – and didn't help Australia save the match, but Taylor's 129 was a landmark effort. He would go on to average 45.42 for the rest of his career, and was the self-confessed inspiration for his epic unbeaten 334 against Pakistan a year later.
In 2003, Waugh came to the SCG with little doubt that failure would signal the end of an illustrious career. Walking in at 56 for 3, Waugh sped to his 29th Test century while equaling Don Bradman's record in the process. The image of him punching the final delivery of the second day from Richard Dawson for four has become legendar. Like Taylor, Waugh was unable to prevent a huge defeat to England but his grit and determination on that day in 2003 still evokes awe.
Now, Ponting's celebration on reaching a much-anticipated century ranks as a significant moment in Australian cricket history. Like Taylor and Waugh did, Ponting has saved his career with an 11th-hour century.
With a manic dash down the wicket, legs pumping, arms taught and eyes burning, followed by a sprawling dive into the turf, Ponting came up with tufts of dirt spitting from his lips. His helmet askew and whites sullied in brown, Ponting removed his helmet and smiled. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, he smiled like a child, endearingly charming. He didn't erupt, he didn't shout, and he didn't curse. In that one frame, his reaction told the story of how pleased he was at scoring a century.
He had not felt his feeling for 33 Test innings. In the duration, he bad been stripped of the Australian captaincy, lost his third Ashes series, and his place in the team questioned numerous times. The recent criticism of Ponting pales in comparison to what Taylor copped during his lean run in the mid-1990s, but by scoring an excellent 134 he has proved that legends cannot easily be written off.
This innings, carved from immense self belief and determination, and littered with shots of old, brought back memories of Taylor and Waugh. It also showed how lenient the Australian selectors – typically unemotional when discarding veterans – have been to him. In 2005, when Sachin Tendulkar scored his 35th Test century, Ponting had 31. In the last six years, Tendulkar has moved to 51 and Ponting 40. That is nine centuries in six years.
Australia's kindness was no doubt a reaction to the poor form of those around Ponting, but he has repaid the faith by scoring a superb century. This effort has bought Ponting time, and how he takes this achievement forward will be engaging to see.
It was an innings full of classy drives, effortless flicks and controlled – how strange that word is when attached to Ponting these days – pull shots. It was vintage Ponting, who scored all around the wicket with a fluency lacking for some time. There were no lunges, no awkward falling forward and no streaky drives off the edge of the bat. It was a dominant inning from a man under the pump, and he did it with the class and composure of a champion batsman for which fans will remember him.
The hero of the day was ultimately Michael Clarke for his outstanding 251, but Ponting's achievement resonates for its determination. For a richly experienced Indian line-up with several luminaries, it was a strong reminder that fortitude of mind is often what separates success from failure.
