Ponting declares it's all over
Ricky Ponting, who on Thursday called an end to a glittering Test
match career, is Australia's all-time leading Test batsman and most
successful captain.
'Punter' Ponting turns 38 next month and admits time has caught up
with him.
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Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting announces his retirement
during a press conference on the eve of the third cricket Test
between South Africa and Australia in Perth on November 29,
2012. AFP |
He stumbled badly in his last three innings against South Africa
during recent draws in Brisbane and Adelaide.
There were calls for the 167-Test veteran to step down ahead of
Friday's series decider in Perth, which will be his final Test.
Ponting will go out in style at the WACA, equalling Steve Waugh's
mark of 168 Test matches -- the most in the history of Australian
cricket.
The Tasmanian -- who can boast 41 centuries, with only Indian legend
Sachin Tendulkar scoring more -- said he knew the time had come.
"Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been
good enough," he admitted.
"My passion and love for the game hasn't changed but at the end of
the day (the decision) was based on my results.
"I'm glad I have got the opportunity to finish on my terms." Ponting
has won more Tests as captain with 48 than any other Australian and has
an astonishing success rate of almost 72 percent as the country's
one-day leader, winning 164 of his 228 games.
He had already called a halt on his captaincy of the Test and one-day
team in March last year, but continued as a player.
Despite skippering Australia in more than 300 Test and one-day
matches, taking over from Steve Waugh, his magnificent innings were
blighted by three Ashes series losses as captain.
Nicknamed Punter by Shane Warne for his penchant for a bet (punt) on
the greyhounds, Ponting has amassed 13,366 runs in 167 Tests at 52.21,
and 13,704 runs in 375 one-day internationals.
As captain he oversaw a painful transition in Australian cricket in
the wake of several high-profile retirements, including Warne, Glenn
McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.
But even with such greats in the ranks, Ponting, as captain, lost the
2005 Ashes in England. Despite engineering a 5-0 revenge in the ensuing
home series in 2006/07, he again lost in 2009 and 2010/11.
That last failure was badly received in Australia -- it was their
first Ashes loss at home for 24 years and followed a series of defeats
by Ponting-led teams. AFP |
