5 batsmen whose careers saw a downslide towards the end

#2 Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting: Not a fairy tale end

Perhaps the only batsman to have challenged Tendulkar’s aggregates, Ricky Ponting’s career numbers are perhaps next only to Don Bradman and Greg Chappell’s in the history of Australian cricket.

An erratic individual in his early days, Ponting, in 2001, scripted a dramatic turnaround in his career through relentless discipline and a drive to perform. A sensational five year period (till Ashes 2006/07) saw him score more than 6000 runs at an average of more than 70.

His form dipped thereafter, however, he still scored relatively consistently until March 2010; but that is the time his form nosedived. That along with his controversial stand off with Michael Clarke meant that Ponting didn't stage a comeback and had to finally call time on his 17-year career in Nov 2012.

From March 2010 onwards, Ponting only scored two hundreds in 26 Tests at an average of just 33.75; this brought his career average down from 55.68 to 51.85.

Span	Matches	Inns	n.o.	Runs	Ave	H.S.	100s	50s
8 Dec’95 – 18 Mar’10	142	240	27	11859	257	55.68	39	51
19 Mar’10 – 30 Nov’12	26	47	2	1519	221	33.75	2	11
Career	168	287	29	13378	257	51.85	41	62