Former Australian cricket player Ricky Ponting pays fans a visit

HUNDREDS of people queued up for an appearance of cricket legend Ricky Ponting.

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HUNDREDS of people queued up for more than two hours at Woolworths Winston Hills on Friday, waiting for the appearance of cricket legend Ricky Ponting.

Ponting signed autographs and posed for photos with fans while promoting his new special edition Ricky Ponting variant, Rexona Men Cricket antiperspirant deodorant.

Field Sales Manager Rebecca Grima said Winston Hills won a sales challenge to earn the Ponting store visit.

"They had the top sales nationally," she said. "I honestly didn't know what to expect today, I was just expecting it be a group of people interested in coming.

"But it's a line that goes halfway around the store. It's quite impressive."

Customer Support Rep Jan Hanigan, who handles in-store promotions and merchandising, said she was chuffed at the result.

For Ethan Chapman, 8, Jesse Cameron, 7, Harry Chapman, 12, all of West Pennant Hills, and Atticus Burge, 11, of Castle Hill, it was a dream come true to meet their hero.

Despite having attended many similar events over the years, Ponting said he didn't know what to expect.

"Because I haven't been in the spotlight much the last couple of months," he said. "It's great to see so many people here and in an area I haven't spent much time in before.

"I've been busier since I retired from international than before that."

Ponting said work was also coming along well on his book.

"I have got a few more sessions I have to have with the author to get it finalised," he said.

"It should end up being a pretty good story.

"There's not too much scandal in the book, just telling the life story of where I came from to where I am today."