Ex-champion batsman seeks media career.
Retired great Ricky Ponting has laid out his credentials as a commentator before being farewelled at his home ground, Bellerive.
Ponting says he’d like to work in the media and his CV shows he’s the man for the job.
“I’d like to work in the media at some stage or at some time in some way, shape or form,” he told the Nine Network.
“I think just being around cricket for as long as I have and being part of successful teams, I think I’ve got a pretty good knowledge of the game and I’m pretty insightful on the game.”
Ponting, who called time on his international career late last month before the third Test against South Africa in Perth, then hopped aboard a ute with the words ‘Farewell Ricky’ emblazoned on it for a lap of the ground.
Accompanied by his two daughters, he received standing ovations from all sections of the modest-sized crowd, including the Australian and Sri Lankan teams involved in the first Test.
There was a guard of honour from his Launceston-based Mowbray Cricket Club comrades before Ponting, who turns 38 next week, thanked Tasmanians for their support.
The send-off at his home ground would have been much bigger on day two of the Australia-Sri Lanka Test, a Saturday, when organisers wanted to hold it.
But this was typical Ricky Ponting – there’s a game to play on Saturday night.
Ponting was off to Melbourne to prepare for the Big Bash League showdown between his Hobart Hurricanes and the Stars.
“I generally get a little bit embarrassed when people start talking about me and even having a whole lunch break in a Test match dedicated to me today is a little more than I probably would have expected,” he said.
He’ll be back at Bellerive later this summer with the Hurricanes and Tasmania, trying to win a first trophy with his state side.
After that, maybe the commentary box.
“It might be a little a bit harder for me, I reckon, playing those last few games … knowing that there’s not the bigger picture in mind,” he said.
“So I’ll see how I feel at the end of the season.”