MELBOURNE, Feb 8: Aussie captain Ricky Ponting can go on to be the most influential cricketer in the country since Don Bradman, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said on Thursday.

Ponting came in for a lot of flak after the Sydney Test against India last month and there were calls from some quarters for him to be sacked. But Sutherland pointed out that Australia is the only team in the world with a spirit of cricket code.

Sutherland was lavish in his praise of Ponting as a captain and a man. “In my view, he [Ponting] is as good a player as we have ever had, bar Bradman. And, as a leader, he has a great opportunity to stand up and I look forward to seeing him as someone who has influenced the game more than anyone, bar Bradman,” he was quoted as saying.—Agencies