Eyes Wide Shut

There were few things ricky ponting enjoyed more as a boy than hanging about in the dressing room of his dad's cricket team. Listening to their chat was a way to learn about batting, he once told me on a drive through his home city of Launceston. Just sorting through their gear was exciting: he loved the tools of the game, couldn't get enough of brands and bat weights and different grips. It was the boy's good luck that his talent for cricket matched his love of it. Though the call-up came later, he was probably ready for the big time...