Ponting topple Thrope to be most 'marketable face' Down Under

Sydney, May 10 (UNI) Ricky Ponting's reward for reasserting Australia's global dominance and his ability to lead the team to unparallel triumphs has made him the country's favourite posterboy and the most marketable face Down Under, eclipsing the likes of legendary swimmer Ian Thrope.

A nation-wide poll attesting to his qualities of leadership and success rated him to be Australia's most bankable sportsperson by a huge majority.

The annual Sweeney Survey scores sports stars on their sponsorship appeal, and its top 10 reflects how desperately Australia wanted the Ashes back, with five top-name cricketers making the cut.

Ponting's popularity has soared following Australia's total anhiliation of England in the Ashes series.

And his popularity is likely to increase by next year's poll.

While this year's survey took place after Australia had reclaimed the famous urn this summer, it came before the record-breaking third consecutive World Cup triumph.

Ponting's manager, Sam Halvorsen, described the poll as flattering and evidence of how Ponting had changed as a person.

Quick to pay tribute was David Flaskas, manager of the man Ponting displaced at the head of the survey, Thorpe.

He said,''Thorpey would be the first to congratulate him, and frankly the Australian cricket captain deserves to sit at the top of the pile.

''The way they won the World Cup and his own performances have been inspirational.

''It's probably the most visible position in Australian sport and everyone's seen him grow in that position.

''We're delighted. Thorpey and I are just surprised he's still at No. 2.

However Lleyton Hewitt's tumble down the pantheon of sporting glory is confirmed by a slide to joint 22nd.

However, industry observers cautioned that the poll was simply a snapshot of Ponting's "bankability" and not much should be read into it but the results undoubtedly reflect the respect Ponting's leadership has engendered.

Flaskas told Herald Sun, ''Thorpey's moved on with his life, though his business interests are still huge in places like Japan, Korea and India.

''They're different kind of business relationships; they're not based so much on superstardom. His legacy to the sport will never be forgotten but you move on. It's Ricky's time,'' Remarkably, despite a season of unremitting injury, Harry Kewell's exploits in the soccer World Cup last year put him in fourth spot.

Kewell's surge is surprising as he is without any major sponsorship deals after his long-standing affiliation to adidas ended.

UNI