Ricky Ponting with the Australian cricket team in India in 2008–09 Ricky Ponting with the Australian cricket team in India in 2008–09 Ricky Ponting captained the Australian cricket team on their four Test tour of India in 2008–09. On a tour that was unsuccessful on a whole, the tourists lost the Test series 2–0 to an Indian side led by Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, while they drew two warm-up matches against the Centre of Excellence (non first-class match) and Indian Board President's XI. This was Ponting's first full tour of India as captain, after previously being injured for three of the four Tests when Australia last visited in 2004.
Ricky Ponting 43. Ahead of the following match against Queensland in Hobart, Ponting set himself a goal of scoring a century in each innings; a feat he achieved in a high-scoring draw. His form continued against the touring Sri Lankans in a one-day game in Devonport, scoring 99. He scored another century against the same opposition in Launceston. During the match, the public address system at the NTCA Ground announced that Ponting was making his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Perth on 8 December. The following morning saw local newspaper "The Examiner" headline: "He's Ricky Ponting, he's ours ... and he's