Veteran batsman will play for Surrey in June and July.
Surrey have secured the prized signing of Ricky Ponting as one of their overseas players. The legendary opener has agreed to play for the side during June and July this year, reports BBC Sport.
Ponting will be acting as cover for Graeme Smith, who will be absent at the Champion’s Trophy in South Africa. The Proteas captain signed a three-year deal with Surrey back in November 2012 and is skipper of the side.
However, with Smith’s commitments to the Champion’s Trophy, Surrey needed to find a replacement for the South African star.
In Ponting they have found a man more than capable to fill Smith’s boots. The 38-year-old has bags of experience as Australia’s captain and is regarded by many as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.
Ponting retired from international cricket in December 2012, after Australia’s 309-run defeat by South Africa in Perth. He has been playing for Tasmania back in his homeland, hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons this week, after being fined for throwing his bat when he was run-out by Western Australia.
The Australian will link up with his old Ashes nemesis Kevin Pietersen at the Oval.
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