One of Australia's greatest captains and a prolific run-scorer. Known for his aggressive captaincy and multiple run-ins with umpires, opponents, and rules.
19 incidents documented
Punjab Kings
6 May 2026
Punjab Kings' 16 dropped catches in 10 matches — joint most in IPL 2026 alongside Chennai Super Kings — has converted the franchise's fielding lapses into a season-long story arc. Shashank Singh, with three drops in a single LSG match alone, has been the public face of the trend; head coach Ricky Ponting has compared the catching slump to a 'virus.'
Punjab Kings
May 2026
PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting summarised his side's fielding crisis in IPL 2026 with two lines that became the season's most-shared coaching quotes: 'It's like a virus. We've put a lot of catches down so far this season,' and the affectionate-exasperated 'It just looks like the ball is following him around everywhere he goes' — directed specifically at Shashank Singh's run of drops.
Punjab Kings
6 May 2026
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer's understated post-match line — 'a bit too much dropped catches today' — after Punjab's 6 May 2026 SRH match became the season's most-shared captain quote. The understatement, in the context of three different PBKS fielders dropping catches in a single match, captured the franchise's exhausted resignation about its season-long catching crisis.
England Women vs India Women
24 September 2022
Deepti Sharma ran out Charlotte Dean at the non-striker's end for backing up too far, sparking a fierce global debate about the spirit of cricket versus the laws of the game.
Various
1 January 2017
The 'Umpire's Call' element of DRS, where marginal LBW decisions are upheld even when ball-tracking shows the ball hitting the stumps, has been one of cricket's most divisive ongoing controversies.
Australia vs India
2-6 January 2008
One of the most controversial Tests ever — terrible umpiring decisions, racial abuse allegations, and India threatening to abandon the tour.
Australia vs India
17 January 2008
A young Ishant Sharma bowled a magical spell to Ricky Ponting at Perth, laughing at the Australian captain after beating him repeatedly.
South Africa vs Australia
2006-03-12
South Africa chased 434 off 50 overs to beat Australia 438-9 vs 434-4 at Johannesburg on 12 March 2006 — the highest successful ODI run chase ever. Australia thought a 434 total was unassailable; South Africa proved otherwise with 4 balls to spare.
Bangladesh vs Australia
2006-04-10
Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, sent in as nightwatchman, refused to get out and scored 201* — the only double century by a nightwatchman in Test history.
England vs Australia
4 August 2005
Ricky Ponting was furious after being run out by England substitute fielder Gary Pratt during the 2005 Ashes, accusing England of abusing the substitute fielder rule to gain an unfair tactical advantage.
England vs Australia
4 August 2005
Andrew Flintoff engaged in relentless verbal and physical intimidation of Ricky Ponting throughout the iconic 2005 Ashes series.
England vs Australia
2005-08-25
Unknown substitute fielder Gary Pratt ran out Ricky Ponting with a direct hit, triggering an epic tantrum from Ponting who ranted at the England dressing room as he walked off.
Australia vs Various
2005-09-12
Ricky Ponting's volcanic temper produced some of cricket's most entertaining meltdowns, from umpire confrontations to dressing room blow-ups.
Australia vs India
23 March 2003
Ricky Ponting survived a caught-behind appeal early in his innings during the 2003 World Cup Final. He went on to score 140 as Australia demolished India.
West Indies vs Australia
25 April 2003
McGrath sledged Sarwan about his personal life. Sarwan reportedly responded with a comment about McGrath's wife Jane, who was battling cancer at the time.
Australia vs Various
2 January 2003
Ricky Ponting was frequently involved in heated arguments with umpires throughout his career, often pointing his finger and showing visible dissent.
India vs Australia
11-15 March 2001
Several contentious LBW decisions went both ways during India's historic follow-on victory against Australia in Kolkata 2001, one of the greatest Tests ever played.
Australia vs Pakistan
1999-11-22
On November 22, 1999 in only his second Test, Adam Gilchrist made an unbeaten 149 to chase down 369 against Pakistan at Bellerive Oval. He and Justin Langer added an unbroken 238 for the sixth wicket — Australia won by 4 wickets and Gilchrist's wicketkeeper-batter revolution was launched.
Australia vs Sri Lanka
1996-03-17
On March 17, 1996 at Gaddafi Stadium, Aravinda de Silva made an unbeaten 107 (and took 3 for 42) as Sri Lanka beat Australia by 7 wickets to win their first World Cup. He was Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament; Sri Lanka became the first host country to win a World Cup.