Ricky Ponting is Australia's all-time leading Test run-getter and a consummately dominant cricketer of the modern era, yet his decorated career may attract an unwanted asterisk in the coming Ashes series with England.

Only the 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar has amassed more Test runs but it is Ponting's captaincy that may yet besmirch his overall stature in cricket as he tries to avoid presiding over three Ashes series defeats.