Ponting Rates Akhtar's Hostile Spell At Perth As Fastest Ever He Faced

Interacting with fans over social media, the 'Punter' has revealed that a hostile spell of fast bowling by Pakistan speed demon Shoiab Akhtar is the fastest ever he ever faced in his international career.

New Delhi: Australian batting great Ricky Ponting who was known to be a class act against quality fast bowling during his prime in the 2000s also had some spine chilling moments facing some of the tearaway bowlers of that generation. Amid the COVID-19 induced lockdown, interacting with fans over social media, the 'Punter' has revealed that a hostile spell of fast bowling by Pakistan speed demon Shoiab Akhtar is the fastest ever he ever faced in his international career. Taking to Twitter, he posted the video of the over and wrote: "Got plenty of questions the other day after calling the Flintoff over the best I'd faced. This from @shoaib100mph was the fastest spell I'd ever faced and trust me Justin wasn't backing up too far at the other end."

Got plenty of questions the other day after calling the Flintoff over the best I'd faced.

This from @shoaib100mph was the fastest spell I'd ever faced and trust me Justin wasn't backing up too far at the other end. pic.twitter.com/JhhuEwXrAc — Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) April 15, 2020

Ponting had earlier said that Andrew Flintoff's fiery and magical over during the 2005 Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston was the "best over" he ever faced in his playing days. England had won the game by two runs in a thrilling encounter and Ponting still remembers Flintoff's fiery over from that match. The official Twitter handle of England Cricket posted a video of that over and Ponting responded to it saying: "Best over I ever faced. Class reverse swing at 90odd mph!"