Ricky Ponting is leading Australian run-getter in Tests
Australia captain Ricky Ponting surpassed his idol Allan Border as Australia’s leading run-getter in Test cricket on the second day of the third Ashes Test against England here on Friday. He had needed 25 runs going into the match and to overtake former captain Border’s mark of 11,174 runs and move up into third place in the all-time list of Test run-scorers behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar (12,773) and West Indian great Brian Lara (11,953).
Resuming at 17 not out here at Edgbaston, the Tasmanian required just eight more runs Friday and an uncertain clip off his legs for three off fast bowler Andrew Flintoff saw him reach the record in 22 fewer matches than the 156 that Border had taken. Paying a tribute for Ponting’s feat, Border released a statement which read, “Clearly, I am a great admirer, having been involved in Ricky’s selection in many great Australian sides, and having enjoyed watching him closely on more occasions than I can remember as a cricket media commentator as well. It is not just the number of runs he has made, it is how he has made them as a dominant force, leading from the front and scoring at a rate previous champions would have regarded as unthinkable.”
Ponting’s stay at the crease was cut short when Graham Onions had him dismissed for 38. Ponting, speaking before this match, had made it clear that, with Australia 1-0 down in the Ashes with three to play, his focus was on team success not individual glory. “Look hopefully it comes. It would be nice to get it out of the way in the first innings of this game and put that behind us. Twenty-five runs is not what I am after in this game, I am after a big score.”
Leading Test match run-scorers (player, country, career dates, matches, innings, not outs, runs, highest score, average, 100s, 50s):
 Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 1989- 159 261 27 12,773 248no 54.58 42 53
Brian Lara (WI) 1990-2006 131 232 6 11,953 400no 52.88 34 48
Ricky Ponting (AUS) 1995- 134 225 26 11,188 257 56.22 38 46
Allan Border (AUS) 1978-1994 156 265 44 11,174 205 50.56 27 63
Steve Waugh (AUS) 1985-2004 168 260 46 10,927 200 51.06 32 50
