Ricky Ponting's 257 vs India ranked 2nd amongst best Test innings in Australia since 2000

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting makes a cut into an exclusive Top 20 club made by cricket.com.au. To commemorate start of a new decade, website is chronicling top 20 batting efforts witnessed ‘Down Under’ from 2000 till 2020. After Ricky Ponting’s match-winning twin centuries against South Africa in 2006 Sydney Test found a place at .20, his punishing 257 against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2003 has been placed at .2 in selected club of batting brilliance.

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When Ricky Ponting’s 257 floored Indian bowling attack in 2003

A Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team toured Australia in 2003-04 for a four-match Border-Gavaskar Test series. While first Test ended in a draw, title-holders took a 1-0 lead by winning second Test on back of Rahul Dravid’s 233 and 72* at Adelaide Oval. two teams n travelled to MCG for a Boxing Day third Test with hosts desperately needing a win to bring series back to levelling terms.

Prior to match, Sourav Ganguly won toss and opted to bat first. Dashing opening batsman Virender Sehwag scored a blitzkrieg 195 to turbo-charge India’s first-innings total to 366. In response, Ricky Ponting came out to middle with Australia at 30-1 and shared a 234-run alliance with Matw Hayden where two cricketers battered and bruised Indian bowling attack. While Hayden was sent back after an attacking 136, Ricky Ponting went on with his usual dictating terms to plunder a career-best 257.

An innings jam-packed with determination and brutal strokeplay, Ponting’s 257 was fuelled with 25 blazing boundaries as he flayed Indian attack for almost 10 hours at crease. His 458-ball MCG statement was backed up with ar 31* in second innings as he found himself at hub of Australia’s successful run-chase. Moreover, prior to his epic MCG double, cricketer also came up clutch with 242 against same opposition (albeit in a losing cause) in previous match.

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Ricky Ponting flays Sourav Ganguly and co. with 257, watch video

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Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2003/04: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid

Interestingly, Virender Sehwag’s 195-run hurricane in same match also made a cut into top 20 list (at .19). While in final Test of tour, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar scyd through Australian attack with his n highest Test score of 241* at Sydney Cricket Ground. In second Test at Adelaide Oval, Rahul Dravid’s match-winning effort was ranked as third best Test kck played on Australian soil since 2000. While Tendulkar’s Sydney masterclass was placed at .6. As many as four centuries from 2003/04 Border-Gavaskar series alone have made ir way into exclusive list so far.

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