Guwahati: Legendary Australian batsman Ricky Ponting experienced a health scare while commentating which compelled him to leave the commentary booth for an unscheduled medical visit during day three of the first Test between Australia and West Indies .
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ponting reported feeling ill in the middle of game day three in Perth. He travelled to get his heart checked out as a precaution.
According to a representative for Seven, Ricky Ponting is ill and won’t be delivering commentary for the remaining portions of today’s broadcast, as The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
In terms of heart health, the past two years have been challenging for Australian cricket. Rod Marsh and Shane Warne, two of the greatest players to ever don the Australian flag, left the game this year in March.
In September 2020, Dean Jones, another Australian hitter, succumbed after a heart attack. Additionally, Ryan Campbell, a former wicketkeeper for Western Australia and more recently the coach of the Netherlands, had a cardiac episode in April of this year as a result of which he nearly passed away.
In 168 Test matches, Ponting has played for Australia scoring 13.378 runs at an average of 51.85 with 41 tonnes and 62 fifties.
He amassed 13,704 runs at an average of 42.03 in 375 ODIs, including 30 centuries and 82 fifties.
He achieved two fifty-plus scores while scoring 401 runs at an average of 28.64 in 17 T20Is.
He was a member of the Australian team that won three consecutive 50-over World Cups in 1999, 2003, and 2007 and he captained the team to victories in the following two competitions.