Ponting's birthday: 5 best innings played by Ricky Ponting

One of the best ever captains that Australia ever produced was Ricky Ponting who took over the mantle from the legendary Steve Waugh and continued his legacy. Under his stewardships, Australia scaled amazing heights as he ushered in a golden era of Australian cricket.

But he was just as brilliant as a batsman and often led from the front producing some very memorable knocks at the most crucial times for his country. On his 42nd birthday today, we look back at his 5 best knocks.

#1 197 vs Pakistan at Perth, 3rd Test, 1999

One of the best innings that Ricky Ponting played during the early phase of his career was the 197 he scored against Pakistan in the third Test at Perth. Pakistan were bowled out for 155 in their first innings and Australia in response scored 451 in their first innings thanks to contributions from Ponting and Justin Langer.

The innings was remarkable as it came at a time when Australia boasted of a great batting line-up and Ponting batted at six in Test cricket. But Ponting played attacking cricket, scoring his 199 off 288 balls in an innings comprising 22 boundaries.

He was unlucky to be dismissed by Azhar Mahmood three runs short of what would have been a well deserved double century. Ponting did go on to get quite a few double centuries in his career later but this innings of his still stands out as one of his best.

#2 140 vs India at Johannesburg, World Cup Final, 2003

Team India under Sourav Ganguly had a dream run during the 2003 World Cup and they went into the final with hope that they could pose a serious challenge to the mighty Aussies. But all their hopes were dashed as the Australian captain almost single-handedly batted India out of the contest in the final.

Capitalising on a fast start provided by the openers, Ponting came in at the fall of the first wicket and started attacking the Indian bowlers from the word go. He cut, pulled, swept and kept clearing the boundary with ridiculous ease, as the Indians were clueless about what had hit them.

He finished unbeaten on 140 off 121 balls in an innings comprising 4 fours and 8 sixes as Australia posted a mammoth 359 for 2 off their 50 overs. India put in a valiant effort but did not even come close while chasing.

#3 257 vs India at the MCG, 3rd Test, 2003

Ponting played one of the best innings of his life when he scored 257 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against India back in 2003. It was a special knock that brought about what would be his highest ever score in Test match cricket.

It did take a superhuman effort from him as he decimated the Indian bowling in an innings comprising 25 boundaries and spanning 590 minutes during which he faced 458 deliveries.

It was also a crucial innings as Australia were batting second after India had posted a modest total of 366 on the board in their first innings. Ponting's big double hundred and his partnership with Mathew Hayden helped Australia set up the game beautifully which they eventually won by nine wickets.

#4 196 vs England at Brisbane, 1st Test, 2006

Coming into the 2006-07 Ashes series, Ponting was under huge pressure as Australia had conceded the urn to England the previous year. It was going to be a make or break Ashes for Ponting as another defeat could well have spelt the end for his term as the captain.

But he soaked in the pressure and lived up to his reputation, leading his team from the front. He played a belligerent knock and remained unbeaten on 137 at the end of the first day's play.

Though he would agonisingly fall short of a double hundred by four runs, his knock of 196 was one of the finest innings he ever played. It set up the match for an Australian victory and eventually a 5-0 thrashing of England in that Ashes series.

#5 164 vs South Africa at Johannesburg, 5th ODI, 2006

Ponting's best ODI knock is well remembered by his fans albeit the fact that it came in a losing cause. In March 2006, against South Africa in the 5th ODI at Johannesburg, he played a memorable knock when he took the attack to the opposition.

It was high-class attacking stuff as Ponting scored his 164 off just 105 balls in an innings that included 13 fours and 9 sixes. Australia posted a mammoth 432 for 4 off their 50 overs thanks to Ponting's effort but strangely ended up losing the match.

It took a perhaps even better innings by Herschelle Gibbs to help South Africa complete the highest ever ODI run chase successfully in what turned out to be an incredible match. Ponting ended up on the losing side but it was unmistakably one of his best ever ODI knocks.