PERTH — Australia’s Ricky Ponting announced his retirement from international cricket yesterday, telling a stunned news conference he would be calling time on his glittering 17-year career after this week’s third Test against South Africa.
Report by Reuters
The former Australia captain has scored 13 366 runs in 167 Tests — the second highest haul in the long history of the game — and stands behind only the great Don Bradman in the ranks of Australian batsmen.
“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.
“I’ve said all along that I would continue to play as long as I could continue to make a contribution to wins and I think over the last couple of weeks my performance has not been good enough to do that.
“I’ve given cricket my all, it’s been my life for 20 years. There’s not much more I can give.”
Ponting, who stood down from the Test captaincy last year and retired from one-day cricket in February, has scored nought, four and 16 in his three innings so far in the series against South Africa.
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Ever the arch-competitor, Ponting said the time to look back over his career would come after the Perth match, which starts today and where he will equal Steve Waugh’s Australian record of 168 Tests. Victory for Australia would see them leapfrog South Africa to return to the top of the test rankings — a position they enjoyed for so long with the gritty Tasmanian in the team.
“It’s a great opportunity. We’re going into what I believe to be almost a Grand Final,” Ponting said.
“As I said to the boys this morning, I’m hungrier than ever and I want this win probably more than any other game I’ve played.
“If we get back to the top of the tree, to the top of the world, there’s no better time for me to bow out.”
Ponting made his Test debut at the age of 20 against Sri Lanka at the WACA a week shy of 17 years ago, making 96 in his one innings as Australia won by an innings and 36 runs.
“Ricky is always uncompromisingly straightforward and leads from the front — he has made a decision that he believes is best for him, his family and his team,” said Cricket Australia Chairman Wally Edwards said. “On behalf of Australian cricket, I congratulate him for his outstanding achievements as a batsman, captain and, after he stood down as captain, leader by example.”
