Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting says he feels “all shiny and new” after a “scary moment” at the first Test in Perth saw him rushed to hospital on Thursday.
The Channel 7 commentator was driven to hospital around lunch time on day three of the clash between Australia and the West Indies after chest pains, dizziness and lightheadedness.
Ponting’s colleague, former teammate and long-time friend Justin Langer took him to see Australian team Doctor Leigh Golding at the Stadium, before the decision was made to send him to hospital.
He was discharged on Thursday night and returned to work on Friday.
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Ponting said on Channel 7 on Friday: “I probably scared a lot of people yesterday and had a scary moment for myself.
“I was sitting in the comms box halfway through the stint and got a couple of really short and sharp pains to my chest. I tried to stretch it out and get rid of it, and probably didn’t want to give too much away when I was on air.
“I had a couple of those incidents, got through the stint and went to walk to the back of the commentary box and got lightheaded and dizzy and grabbed the bench. I mentioned to JL on the way out, who was commentating with me, that I had had these pains in my chest and Chris Jones (executive producer) heard me and just reacted straight away and got me out of there. 10 or 15 minutes later, I was in the hospital getting the best treatment that I possibly could.
“I feel great this morning, I am all shiny and new this morning, but I think the bottom line is, the fact I was willing to share it with JL and that your mate looks after you, I think as people of our age, we are a little reluctant to share much or talk about our health and I think that is a good learning curve for me yesterday, especially with what has happened in the last 12-18 months really close people around us.
“My little mate looked after me and got me down there and I’m back shiny and new this morning.”
He joked he had a “nice relaxing afternoon in the hospital and got a great sleep last night, but the worst part was I missed the best cricket.”
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Justin Langer added: “I knew if Ricky Ponting comes to me and says something is not quite right, well, you know something is not quite right. I think it is a great lesson for everyone. “That after our 12 months, it has become very published, with Rod Marsh and Shane Warne, of course, Ryan Campbell, when someone says they’ve got something going on, then talk up.
“And it was good to see the little fella not being the tough guy, not being the Ice Man, and reaching out to his friends. And as Ricky said, we got some great care for him yesterday afternoon.”
Sources told foxsports.com.au Ponting was driven to Royal Perth hospital at lunch time by Golding, and remained there under observation until after stumps on day three.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins sent his and the team’s best wishes to Ponting in his press conference after the day’s play.
“I only heard it for one minute a few minutes ago, but I just wish him the best,” Cummins said.
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“I was chatting to him this morning out on the field. By all reports it sounds like he’s going OK.
“But anything like that is super scary so we wish him the best.”
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here