The Test captain in-waiting was on Tuesday named by Wisden Australia as Australia's Cricketer of the Year for his outstanding form with the bat and leadership of the country's one-day side.

Ponting's one-time mentor Marsh said the 28-year-old could go on to become one of the all-time greats of the game.

"He can go as far as he wants to go because he has got the talent," said Marsh, who guided the Tasmanian at the Australian Cricket Academy.

"Sometimes very specially talented cricketers never reach their full potential, but what they do is often good enough to make them outstanding players.

"At his best, if he did reach his full potential, there is no reason why he couldn't be like Bradman or Tendulkar and those sorts of people.

"He's probably very close to doing that. I always have the feeling that he has more left in him. I hope that for the fans' sake and the sake of the game, he lets it come out."

In the last 12 months, Ponting has hit 1,282 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 80.13.

He led Australia to a successful World Cup defence despite Shane Warne's doping scandal and scored 1,085 runs in limited-overs internationals, including a breathtaking 140 not out in the World Cup final win over India.

Ponting said at the Wisden function that he was in the best form of his career and was in the happiest period of his life, thanks to his marriage last year to Rianna.

"I've developed a lot as a person and a cricketer since the day of my wedding to Rianna," he said. "I now have respect for myself, the game of cricket and all the people around me, teammates included."

Ponting received his Wisden award at a Brisbane function, while Test opener Matthew Hayden was honoured for being one of international chronicler Wisden's five cricketers of the year.