Ponting sees mirror image in son Fletcher’s cricketing obsession

Young Fletcher was seen in the nets during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Major League Cricket (MLC), where Ricky Ponting served as head coach of Delhi Capitals and Washington Freedom, respectively.

During the latest episode of The ICC Review, Australia legend Ponting opened up about his son Fletcher’s passion for the game, one that mirrors his own from childhood.

“He drives me mad, honestly,” Ponting joked, speaking to Sanjana Ganesan. “Everyone that sees him and even my family, he's just a clone of what I was at the same age.

“He lives and breathes the game.”

Ponting went on to reveal the resilience following a major injury setback that his 14-year-old faced last year.

“Fletcher’s had a tough run actually the last 12 months.

“He got a double stress fracture in his back in June-July last year, which meant that he missed a whole year of cricket. So he was not allowed to do any sport at all.

“There was no running, there was no physical activity at school. So it's only just been now that he's been able to start up and do some batting again.”

The former Australia captain further explained how his son's enthusiasm led to the injury.

“He likes to think of himself as an all-rounder. He did his back by trying to bowl too fast, trying to be like your husband (Jasprit Bumrah) actually and bowl fast all the time. That's how he hurt himself!” Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan.

Being the head coach of the Washington Freedom in the MLC offered a refreshing change of scene for the Ponting family. A few weeks ago, the franchise's social handles showed Fletcher hitting the nets with dad close by, soaking in the experience in the USA.

“He sits there patiently for three hours until the end of every session and then puts his pads on and I take him to the nets and he gets his own little hit,” Ponting said.

“So it’s those memories for him and for Rianna [Ponting’s wife], and guess what, the Washington Freedom allowed us to do as a family and allow Fletcher and my girls and Rianna to be around for big chunks, it's been a lot of fun.”

According to Ponting, Fletcher has developed a keen eye for detail, soaking up cricket videos and replicating the bowling actions of several top players in the game, including that of ICC no. 1-ranked Test bowler Bumrah.

“He's watched every video of any highlight of any game that you can imagine. He can copy everyone's bowling actions,” he said.

“He actually does Jasprit's very, very well. He picks up little things like that really quickly and he just loves the game, and that’s all I want - for him to enjoy the sport and dream big.”