“I mentioned to JL on the way out, he was commentating with me, that I’d had these pains in my chest,” Ponting said. “Chris Jones heard me as well, and basically those two just grabbed me straight away and got me out of there, and 10 or 15 minutes later I was in hospital getting the best treatment I possibly could.

“I feel great this morning, I’m all shiny and new. But I think the bottom line is the fact I was willing to share it ... as people of our age we’re probably a little bit reluctant to share much and talk much about our health especially, and that’s really a good learning curve for me yesterday, especially with what’s happened over the last 12 or 18 months with really close people around us.”

It has been a difficult year for Australian cricket in terms of heart health, after the game lost Ponting’s former cricket academy mentor Marsh and then legendary spin bowler Warne in quick succession in March.

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Dean Jones, one of Ponting’s heroes as a young cricketer, had died suddenly of a heart attack in September 2020. Campbell, the former Western Australia wicketkeeper and more recently Netherlands coach, was extremely close to death after a cardiac episode in April.

“It’s a great lesson for everyone that after our 12 months, it’s become very public with Rod Marsh and Shane Warne, Ryan Campbell,” Langer said. “When someone says they’ve got something going on, then talk up.”

Langer’s predecessor as Australian coach, Darren Lehmann, is another who has experienced a brush with serious cardiac issues, suffering a heart attack on the morning of his 50th birthday in February 2020. Lehmann awoke about 4.30am that day, suffering chest tightness and sweating.

Following a trip to hospital, Lehmann was soon rushed into surgery for a triple bypass, and has subsequently given up smoking while becoming an advocate for heart health. Among the initiatives Lehmann has been involved in is a plan to have heart defibrillators on hand at every cricket club in the country.

West Indian great Brian Lara, working as a Fox Cricket commentator on the Perth Test, had his own heart scare while in India in 2019.

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