Aggressive cricketing XI of all time

3. Ricky Ponting

There is no doubt that Ricky Ponting is one of the geniuses of our game. He is one batsman who could be trusted to score runs in almost every condition. He stood the test of time and showed his class across the years. He also led one of the most dominating international teams in the history of the game. 

However, all these achievements can’t do away the fact that he was a really aggressive player. Sledging was one of the things which made him look aggressive but it was his mindset on the field. There was just a ‘no-nonsense’ look on his face at times when he used to take the field. Just to give you perspective, during the Boxing Day Test match in 1999, Javagal Srinath bowled him a bouncer which hit on the face. Next thing you know, Srinath is running to Ponting to ask if he was okay. But the Tasmanian just stared at him and shouted at him to get back to his bowling run-up. 

There was an inert aggressiveness in just the way he used to bat. He would never take anything for granted and was always up for an altercation. There are enough YouTube videos to verify. For example, he shouted at England coach Duncan Fletcher for fielding substitute fielders during the Ashes 2005 while he walked to the dressing room. But, over 27,000 international runs along with 71 centuries maybe makes everyone forget his attitude on the field.