At the Close of Play is the definitive autobiography of Ricky Ponting, Australia’s most successful Test captain and one of the finest batsmen in the history of the game. Spanning more than two decades of elite international cricket, the book offers a candid, detailed, and often reflective account of Ponting’s rise from Tasmanian prodigy to the central figure of Australian cricket’s most dominant era.
 
Unlike earlier cricket memoirs that focus narrowly on on-field achievements, Ponting’s narrative is expansive and self-critical. He examines leadership, failure, controversy, and personal growth with notable honesty, addressing triumphs alongside missteps that shaped his career and public reputation. The book provides rare insight into the internal dynamics of the Australian team during the late 1990s and 2000s — a period marked by sustained dominance, intense scrutiny, and evolving professionalism.
 
Ponting writes extensively about captaincy: the pressures of leading a champion side, managing strong personalities, coping with defeat, and navigating the changing expectations placed on modern cricketers by media and supporters. He also reflects on key Ashes series, World Cup campaigns, and the gradual transition from player to elder statesman of the game.
Interwoven with the cricketing narrative is Ponting’s personal story — family, upbringing in Tasmania, injuries, form slumps, and the emotional toll of a life lived largely in the public eye. The result is a comprehensive sporting autobiography that functions both as a personal memoir and as a first-hand history of Australian cricket at the turn of the 21st century.