CHENNAI: Former Australian player
Tom Moody believes
Ricky Ponting --- one of the finest to have played the game --- was destined for greatness right a young age.
"When Ponting was part of the Australian academy even before he played a first-class game ---
Rod marsh was head of the academy --- and he told me that he had never seen anyone pick length as quickly as Ponting did. This was when Ponting was a 16-year-old kid and Marsh had said this kid is going to be a superstar," Moody said during the show 'Cricket Inside Out' on the
ICC
website.
Moody did accept that Ponting had his share of controversies when he started out, but he soon evolved into a fine cricketer. "Ponting was a rough diamond when he first arrived. He made mistakes like we all have but he has learnt from them and evolved into a match-winner. He became one of the most respected Australian batsmen, captain, commentator and now a coach," Moody added.
Former Zimbabwean player
Pommie Mbhangwa
, who too was part of the show, felt Ponting's talent was visible when he toured Zimbabwe as a youngster. "I remember Ponting coming to Zimbabwe as a youngster in a Tasmania team that had
David Boon,
Rod Tucker and a few others. Ponting was very young during that point of time. Now, you see the most gentle and calculated guy that Ponting is, but at that time he was an aggressive player. What wasn't questionable was his talent as turned up in a side that had veterans and scored runs," Pommie recalled.