Ponting to play in 100 Test wins after Aus defeated SL

Tags: Australia tour of Sri Lanka - 2011, Sri Lanka v Australia 1st Test at Galle - Aug 31-Sep 4, 2011, Australia, Ricky Thomas Ponting, most Test victories

Published on: Sep 03, 2011

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Ricky Ponting became the first cricketer to play in 100 Test wins after Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 125 runs in the first Test in Galle on Saturday.

Ricky Ponting became the first cricketer to play in 100 Test wins after Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 125 runs in the first Test in Galle on Saturday.

The former skipper, 36, was already Test cricket's most successful captain with 48 wins when he stepped down in April to make way for Michael Clarke.

Ponting, who made his Test debut in 1995, has so far played 153 matches and his 12,411 runs make him the world's third-highest run-getter, behind the Indian duo of SachinTendulkar and RahulDravid.

"His longevity in the game is amazing," said Clarke after Saturday's match. "For about eight or nine of our squad it was the first Test win, and here was Punter (Ponting) with his 100th."

"He has played a hell of a lot of games, captained a hell of a lot of games and won a hell of a lot of games. Just an amazing cricketer."

But Ponting will miss the second Test in Pallekele from September 8 to go home for the birth of his second child. However, he is expected to return for the final match in Colombo from September 16.

The seven cricketers who have been part of most Test wins are all Australians, and have all been Ponting's teammates at some stage.

List of players with most Test victories (name, wins):

Ricky Ponting - 100

Shane Warne - 92

Steve Waugh - 86

Glenn McGrath - 84

Adam Gilchrist - 73

Mark Waugh - 72

Matthew Hayden - 71

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