With the ICC awards round the corner, Ricky Ponting has lots to look back to and quite a lot to look forward to as well.

By Rajarshi Gupta

The dynamic batsman was awarded the Cricketer of the Year in 2006 and 2007 and bagged the Test Player of the Year in 2006 and now, days away from his team's tour of India, 'Punter' knows how to get his adrenaline running.

India has never been a happy hunting ground for him. Way back in 2001, a young spin sensation by the name of Harbhajan Singh traumatised Ponting so much so that by the end of the series, the destructive middle order batsman, who was quite a name in world cricket then, had more catches to his credit than runs.

However, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since. Ponting went back to Australia, went through the rigours of training all over again, almost like a beginner's initiation into the big league and came back stronger, scaling new heights every year till the ICC recognised the magic in his willow and bestowed him with top honours in 2006 and 2007.

What Ponting has given to world cricket is not only the tons of runs he has scored but the sheer way in which he annihilated bowlers around the globe and the style and aura of his domination at the crease, that have left spectators spell bound.

The Australian batting line up maybe feared for its brutality but lacks a sense of the artistic excellence that an Indian batting order may dish up. Ponting is the only exception in the pack.

Now, on the brink of another Indian tour, Ponting has his past to fall back on. Yes, he still has not been able to tame Harbhajan, he may still struggle against Anil Kumble's flippers and may shuffle a fraction too much against Zaheer Khan's away swingers early in his innings. However, the Indians would know the Aussie skipper would be much better prepared now, they would know he is a much better batsman now and given the honours and accolades the governing body has given him, the hunger to put it across his traditional tormentors would only double up.

With the ICC set to honour a fresh list of world class cricketers on September 10 and Ponting presumably a strong contender for at least the Test Player of the Year, though the nominations are not out yet) looking wildly for some inspiration after his insipid show against the IndiansDown Under last summer, the time is ripe for him to look towards the Orient and plan an assault on his nemesis, our affable Bhajji.