Ponting times retirement perfectly like his strokes

Ponting times retirement perfectly like his strokes

Perth: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket, telling a stunned news conference that he would be calling time on his glittering 17-year career after this week’s third Test against South Africa. Ponting has scored 13,366 runs in 167 Tests — only Sachin Tendulkar has more.

“A few hours ago I let the boys know of my decision to make this Test my last,” Ponting, who turns 38 next month, told reporters. “It’s a decision I thought long and hard about. It was based on my output and my results in this series so far. It hasn’t been what I expect of myself and certainly not the level required of a batsman in the Australia team.”

Ponting, who made his Test debut in 1995, has scored 0, 4 and 16 in his three innings in the ongoing series against South Africa. He stressed the decision to retire had not been prompted by the selectors and said it was not hard to miss out on one final Ashes contest next year because he realised he was not good enough to get there. “I’ve given cricket my all; it’s been my life for 20 years, there’s not much more I can give,” he said. Ponting will play his last Test on Friday at Perth — the ground on which he made his Test debut — and equal Steve Waugh’s Australian record of 168 Tests.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke couldn’t hold back his tears. “The boys are obviously hurting at the moment. He’s been an amazing player for a long time,” Clarke said. —Reuters