The 2006–07 Ashes series was eagerly anticipated, and for Ricky Ponting's Australian team it played out like a dream, as they destroyed England 5–0.
Ponting described the series as 'the best period of my cricketing life'. Yet, an even more commanding performance was just around the corner. In a drawn out and controversial World Cup in the West Indies, the Australians were supreme, winning all their matches easily. Not even the fact that the final against Sri Lanka ended in near darkness after officials misinterpreted the playing conditions could hide the fact that this triumph was one of the most dominant in the history of Australian sport.
The only sobering thought for the Aussie skipper was that in future he would have to go into battle without some of his most famous teammates – Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn – and also without longtime coach John Buchanan. All retired during the 2006–07 season, and in this diary, Ponting pays tribute to the massive contribution each of these men made to their sport. But though they may be gone, the captain refuses to be pessimistic.
While there may never be another season of success of quite like the one covered in this book, in Ricky Ponting's eyes the future of Australian cricket still looks very good indeed.
