Justin Langer's vital role in worrying Ricky Ponting health scare

Justin Langer's important role in helping Ricky Ponting go to hospital has been revealed after the Australian icon sent shockwaves through the cricket community after a health scare on Friday afternoon. Ponting was taking part in commentary duties for Channel 7 during Australia's Test against the West Indies at Perth Stadium when he reportedly started feeling unwell.

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The former Australian captain left Optus Stadium around lunch-time and was taken to hospital as a precaution for a heart scare. He is reportedly fine.

However, News Corp has revealed that friend former teammate Langer jumped into action to help Ponting when he started to feel unwell. Langer was with Ponting when he reportedly became dizzy and quickly helped his friend to the Optus Stadium lifts.

He then guided his mate to Australian team doctor Leigh Golding. The doctor took Ponting to the hospital shortly after lunch. The publication reports that Ponting has told colleagues he is feeling fine and the trip to hospital was a precaution.

“Ricky Ponting is unwell and will not be providing commentary for the remainder of today’s coverage,” a Channel 7 spokesperson said.

“It’s not yet known if Ponting will return to commentate on Saturday, or the remainder of the Test.”

Pat Cummins' message to Ricky Ponting

Following play on Friday, Aussie captain Pat Cummins responded to the news about Ponting.

"I wish Ricky the best," Cummins said after play on day three. "We were just chatting to him this morning out on the field. By all reports it sounds like he's going ok. Anything like that is super scary, so we wish him the best."

Ponting is considered one of the greatest batters of all time and is an Australian cricket legend. He played 168 Test matches and 375 one-day internationals during a glittering career in which he amassed 13,378 Test runs - the most by an Australian batter ever and only second to Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

He also racked up 13,704 runs in ODIs, which is third all-time behind Tendulkar and Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara. Fans have been sending their well-wishes to Ponting on social media.

His health scare comes after a devastating year for Australian cricket after the deaths of Rod Marsh, Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds.

Australian cricket was rocked when Marsh died in February at the age of 74 after suffering a heart attack. Not long after, Warne died from a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Thailand in March. And Symonds was killed in a car crash in May.

In April, former Australian cricketer Ryan Campbell was given just a seven per cent chance of surviving after being placed in an induced coma for seven days following a cardiac arrest.

Incredibly, Campbell survived and was bale to return for the Netherlands at the T20 World Cup. He was part of the team to claim victory over South Africa in a historic moment.

with AAP

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