'This guy will play a lot of cricket for Australia' - Brett Lee recalls Rod Marsh's words for a young Ricky Ponting

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was a generational talent and was a cut above most of his peers, not only in the Australian team but among all the cricketing nations. His run tally at the highest level is a testament of his exemplary skills which is only second to the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. The stylish right-hander also led arguably one of the fiercest sides in the history of cricket, winning back-to-back World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007. Ex-Aussie speedster and Ponting's former teammate Brett Lee shared an interesting story from his early playing days that shed light on the batting legend's temperament.

Ricky Ponting, during his playing days, was one of the fiercest opponents imagined. He never backed away from a challenge and possessed an unrivaled grit. The two-time world cup winning captain finished his career with over 27000 runs and 71 centuries to his name across all forms of the game. While his numbers speak volumes about his batting prowess, Brett Lee shared a tale from their early playing days, highlighting the temperament of his former skipper.

"When he burst onto the scene in the 90s, no one knew what was coming when they saw Ricky Ponting. Well, the rumor is that when he (Ponting) went there in the early 90s, he went there with a cap on. Rod Marsh said, ‘what are you doing?’ He said, ‘I’m batting'. 160 kmph, he goes bang, hitting the ball in front of the square; did not miss one. And Rod Marsh back then, who was a wonderful coach, and a great selector and a great talent scout said straightaway ‘this guy will play a lot of cricket for Australia’," Lee said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

Rod Marsh's words came true as Ponting featured for Australia in all formats of the game and is Australia's most successful Test captain to date, even ahead of the mercurial Steve Waugh. 

Brett Lee remembered getting hit all over the body during the academy days

Lee also stated that even the bowlers had to face the music under Rod Marsh's watchful eyes. He remembered 'getting hit everywhere; in the head, in the helmet, in the arm' as he wasn't the most technically abled with the bat in hand.

“We had to face 12 balls at a 160 kmph off the bowling machine in the cricket net. You can imagine guys like me who aren't great batsmen being petrified, facing the bowling machine at 160 kmph getting hit everywhere; in the head, in the helmet, in the arm," he added