Ricky Ponting taken to hospital after heart scare during Australia-West Indies Test in Perth

Ricky Ponting’s Channel 7 colleague Justin Langer sprung into action before the former captain was rushed to hospital as more details emerge.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting was on Friday night being monitored after suffering a heart scare on day three of the first Test in Perth.

News Corp can reveal Ponting’s Channel 7 colleague Justin Langer sprung into action and helped the Test legend and his best mate down the lifts at Optus Stadium and took him to see Australian team doctor, Leigh Golding in the bowels of the stadium.

Soon after, around lunch time, the Channel 7 commentator and Australian cricketing great then left the ground where he was driven to hospital in a car driven by Golding.

He was not on air through the afternoon sessions.

It’s understood Ponting, 47, has reported to colleagues he’s feeling OK, but was taking every precaution after feeling unwell and immediately went to hospital for checks in Perth.

“Ricky Ponting is unwell and will not be providing commentary for the remainder of today’s coverage,” said a Channel 7 spokesperson.

Commentators have been told Ponting was experiencing dizziness and as a result went to undergo some tests on his heart.

Looking forward to this. On @7cricket all summer. pic.twitter.com/kF2uj8joyi

— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) November 30, 2022

Ricky Ponting organised a player reunion this year following the sudden deaths of Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds. Picture: Evan Morgan

News Corp has been told it was Langer who took Ponting down to see the Australian team doctor who attended to him at the ground and made the decision to drive him to hospital.

Sources say the nature of Ponting’s health issue is not thought to be serious, but he was worried about symptoms he was feeling and was eager to get checked out.

Particularly after recent tragedies involving cricketing greats Shane Warne and Dean Jones and a narrow escape for Ryan Campbell, there is a heightened sense of alert amongst cricketers and their health.

“I wish Ricky the best. We were just chatting to him this morning out on the field. By all reports it sounds like he’s going OK,” said Australian captain, Pat Cummins.

“Anything like that is super scary, so we wish him the best.”

Channel 7 said no decision had been made on whether Ponting would return to the ground on Saturday at this stage.

Ponting was the organiser of a reunion between Australian cricketing greats earlier this year in Melbourne, to celebrate the bonds of friendship they share after they were rocked by the sudden deaths of Warne and Andrew Symonds.

The respected Channel 7 star is surrounded by some of his best mates in the halls of the Optus Stadium broadcast centre, with Justin Langer and Matt Hayden not only his on-air colleagues but among his closest friends, along with Fox Cricket commentators like Adam Gilchrist and Mike Hussey.

Former greats from different networks were seen popping into the Channel 7 box to check on colleagues in the afternoon, while other commentators were also asking after Ponting’s welfare.

Originally published as Ricky Ponting taken to hospital after heart scare during Australia-West Indies Test in Perth