Former Aussie cricket captain Ricky Ponting headed to $20m new Toorak wicket

Ricky Ponting is headed to a new wicket in Toorak. And the former Aussie Test cricket captain has paid an incredible, eight-figure sum set to make it one of the priciest homes sold in 2023.

The impressive Toorak home former Australian Test cricket captain Ricky Ponting has bought for more than $20m.

Cricket champion Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna have forked out more than $20m for a six-bedroom Toorak mansion.

The property had been listed with an $18.8m-$20.6m asking price, but industry sources say the final deal was close to $20.75m.

The impressive home in Melbourne’s most exclusive suburb was renovated under the guidance of architect Nicholas Day and the late interior design guru Stuart Rattle for its previous owners, EY partner Nicola Commins and her husband Jamestrong Packaging chief executive Alex Commins.

RELATED: Ricky Ponting takes new wicket in Portsea

Mark Philippoussis’ Jan Juc beachside escape hits the market

Two incredible Hawthorn mansions hit the market, one set to challenge suburb record

It features wrought-iron staircases, marble-topped kitchen surfaces, and extensive French doors to connect to outdoors, where a luxury pool, statues and manicured greenery feature in gardens designed by industry icon Paul Bangay.

The former Australian test captain — still closely linked with the game as a coach in the Indian Premier League and in commentory for Channel 7 — will also be able to work on his tennis game at the 1400sq m property which features a court and entertainment space.

Ponting will be able to work on his tennis game in the home’s manicured back yard.

It’s been estimated the Pontings could be able to host upwards of 150 guests in the two-storey home’s ground level alone.

The Pontings currently own a mansion in well-heeled Brighton, a seven-bedroom pad bought for $9.2m in 2013 in one of the suburb’s most sought-after streets.

Ponting also bought a luxury weekender in Portsea in 2019, spending $3.51m on the impressive four-bedroom home with a pool.

The power couple’s expensive tastes go back a long way, with the pair spending $3.8m on a waterfront home in Sydney’s Burraneer back in 2004.

Forbes Global Properties director Mike Gibson confirmed the Toorak home had sold, but refused to comment on the buyer or price.

The Toorak home has extensive room for entertaining and its interior design was overseen by late design guru Stuart Rattle.

However, he did confirm there had been both local and international interest in the property, with rising demand from buyers with funds coming from China in the past six months.

“Once the borders of China opened and their citizens could leave, late last year, we began seeing huge influx of buyers to the upper end of the Melbourne market,” Mr Gibson said.

“And there’s a shortage of properties in the market now, so it’s as strong a market as I have ever been in. We are not interest rate sensitive at this end of the market.”

The home’s bathrooms are impressively styled.

Top-end buyer’s advocate Andrew Smith is understood to have helped broker the deal, but denied any involvement.

Mr Smith did confirm he too had noticed significant competition from internationally backed buyers in the past six months, as well as from former international migrants now seeking an upgrade — particularly for homes worth more than $15m.

Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.

MORE: Former Foster’s boss Trevor O’Hoy lists Brighton pad visited by Ricky Ponting

Luxury homes, fast cars, big sales: Inside the lives of Melbourne’s high-flying agents

West Melbourne house with rooftop pool and terrace, $15k crystal light for sale

Originally published as Former Aussie cricket captain Ricky Ponting headed to $20m new Toorak wicket