Ricky Thomas Ponting (born December 19, 1974, in Launceston, Tasmania) is an Australian cricketer and current captain of the Australia national cricket team (for both One Day International and Test cricket). Ponting is also a member of the Tasmanian Tigers, a side he plays for intermittently, having been based in Sydney for several years. He is a specialist right-hand batsman, slips and close catching fielder, as well as a very occasional, right-arm medium pacer.

Ponting reached international standards at a young age for a batsman, making his One Day International debut in early 1995 and making his Test debut at the end of the year aged 20. However, his progress was not unhindered. He lost his place in the team several times due to lack of form and discipline issues, before rising to the ODI captaincy in early 2002 and becoming Test captain in early 2004. As of end December 2007, he is the highest ranked ODI batsmen and ranked fourth amongst Test batsman in the ICC ratings