Passionate memoirs from a cricket great

Punter has hung up his baggy green, and the last great player in a great era of Australian cricket has signed off with a thumping, exhaustive life story.

Ponting created a lot of headlines with his comments about his replacement as captain, Michael Clarke, but a couple of paragraphs in a 700-page book are never going to tell the full story.

There is much honesty and considered opinion in here, and cricket fans will also get plenty of analysis of the state of play.

There are some painful chapter breaks focusing on rather watery concepts relating to life and leadership, but Ponting has earned his platform.

His passion for his country, his sport and his family shine on every page.

- Hayden Meikle is ODT sports editor.