Four centuries in a week of schoolboy cricket in Launceston saw him presented with the first of a stream of Kookaburra cricket bats.
"You could tell he was going to be a player, but 25 Test centuries . . . no one could have predicted that," Kookaburra's managing director Rob Elliot said.
Ponting has scored 18 of his Test centuries at No. 3, which places him behind only Don Bradman as Australia's best in that position.
Not only has his batting matured, so has his stature as a leader and, according to many former Australian batsmen and captains, his story is far from complete.
While world cricket's standards are horribly lopsided, Ponting's appetite for runs and consistency has become one of the features of Australia's game alongside Glenn McGrath's remarkable longevity and the deeds of the reborn Shane Warne.
Adam Gilchrist says Ponting was hardened by the condemnation of his leadership after Australia's rare Ashes loss and is playing with a steely resolve he and his teammates have not seen before.
Ponting's first coach at the Australian Cricket Academy, Rod Marsh, forecast a major career for Ponting from the time he first coached him in his mid-teens.
Ponting had rare hand-eye co-ordination and a technique of seasoned players almost twice his age.
He also had the determination and focus to re-group after an initial taste of Test cricket, before being dropped and making a century on his return, against the 1998-99 West Indians in Bridgetown.
Twenty-four hours before the game, Greg Blewett was injured at centre wicket practice in Barbados and Ponting took his place, making a patient century and sharing a huge stand with captain Steve Waugh in one of the most memorable of all Australia's overseas Tests.
The regard the Windies felt for him even then was obvious as they bowled wide to the youngster looking to frustrate him and force an early error.
In steamy 30C conditions, Ponting batted the whole innings in a short-sleeved jumper, believing it brought him good luck.
Self-belief has replaced superstition and Ponting's wonderful start to the international summer has cemented his standing as a No.3 of rare quality, grit and purpose.
Only Bradman and Stan McCabe – another batsman known for the power of his pull shot – have averaged more than Ponting's 65 in the No.3 position.
And only India's Rahul Dravid has produced more runs at first-drop.
India's new skipper has scored nearly 6500 runs in 120 Tests at an average of 61.19.
According to Ron Archer, Ponting – like former greats – has the ability to score off "reasonable" balls.
"Greg Chappell used to do the same," Archer said.
"I've never seen anyone pull the ball better than Ricky.
"Often, too, he whacks them from just short of a length. It's a real signature shot of his."
While the records of some of the past greats would be even more formidable given the technological advances in equipment, the increase in match play and the shorter boundaries now in vogue, no one can deny Ponting his standing as one of Australia's foremost cricketers in a decade of world championship domination.
And many of his family and old friends will be at Bellerive next weekend celebrating Ponting's new celebrity standing in the game.
"I discount all the talk that teams like the Windies aren't up to scratch," says former Australian captain Brian Booth.
"The good players like Ricky make it look easy.
"It isn't just a matter of walking out there and scoring a 100.
"You still have to do it. It doesn't happen easily."
- KEN PIESSE