Ricky Ponting Becomes Highest Australian Test Run Scorer Ricky Ponting |
Ponting broke Allan Border's former record of 11,174 runs ,during the first innings in the third Test against England at Edgbaston .He is now third on the all time Test run scorer list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, with 12,773 and 11,953 Test runs, respectively.
The Australian skipper celebrated his milestone, by waving his bat to all parts of the Edgbaston ground.
Cricket Australia (CA) congratulated Ponting on his achievement.
"I have heard Ricky talk about being inspired to win the right to wear the baggy green when, as a kid, his uncle, Tasmanian fast bowler Greg Campbell, was chosen to tour England in 1989," CA Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said.
"He is now on his fourth tour to England and while I know personal records are not an interest for him, I also know cricket fans everywhere will celebrate this milestone as a worthy achievement by this extraordinary cricketer."
Allan Border, the former captain and current CA director praised Ponting for achieving the new record.
"Clearly, I am a great admirer, having been involved in Ricky's selection in many great Australian sides, and having enjoyed watching him closely on more occasions than I can remember as a cricket media commentator as well," Border said.
"It is not just the number of runs he has made, it is how he has made them as a dominant force, leading from the front and scoring at a rate previous champions would have regarded as unthinkable".