Ricky Ponting rushed to hospital after health scare

Australia legend Ricky Ponting was forced to stand down from commentary duties on Friday having been rushed to hospital following a health scare.

It has been reported in the Australian media that the issue was heart related.

Ponting, 47, reported feeling unwell early on the afternoon of the third day of Australia’s first Test of the summer, against West Indies at Perth Stadium. He is commentating on the series for free to air broadcaster Channel 7.

Having commented on the morning session, he was taken to Royal Perth hospital for precautionary checks on his heart. Justin Langer, a close friend and now commentary colleague, was reported to have helped him to the car.

"Ricky Ponting is unwell and will not be providing commentary for the remainder of today's coverage. It’s not yet known if Ponting will return to commentate on Saturday, or the remainder of the Test,” a spokesperson for broadcaster Channel 7 said in a statement.

Ponting was reported by Australian media to have been feeling fine later in the day.

Australian cricket is on red alert for health scares at the end of a year that has left it reeling following the sudden deaths of legendary players Shane Warne, Rod Marsh and Andrew Symonds.

Since retiring from a glittering career, Ponting has become a respected coach in the Indian Premier League as well as one of the sharpest analysts in the game. Having made his international debut in 1995, his career, which saw him play 168 Tests and 375 ODIs, ended in 2013. He won the Ashes five times and the ODI World Cup three times, scoring 71 international centuries along the way.

Australia are in total charge of the Test. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both made double-centuries as they racked up 598 for four declared in their first innings, before bowling West Indies out for 283. Skipper Pat Cummins, who picked up three wickets, declined to enforce the follow-on, and his team reached stumps on day three with a lead of 344 runs, and nine wickets in hand.

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