PONTING ERA OVER168 MATCHES in the baggy green for Australia
Australia's greatest run-scorer, Ricky Ponting, will retire after the
Perth Test against South Africa, ending one of the most distinguished
cricketing careers of all time.
Fighting back tears Ponting announced this afternoon that he will
step aside following his 168th Test, at the WACA Ground, starting
tomorrow.
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Australian Test cricketer Ricky Ponting announcing his
retirement during a press conference on the eve of the third
cricket Test between South Africa and Australia in Perth on
November 29. AFP |
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Ricky Ponting AFP |
The former skipper made the announcement to a packed media conference
with his wife Rianna and daughters Emmy and Matisse sitting close by.
His Australian teammates also stood silently at the back of the room.
The 37-year-old told the media he had thought long and hard about giving
it away in recent days.
"It struck me only a few weeks ago that my preparation was good as
it'd been," Ponting said. "But when the big moments came around my
performance hadn't been good enough for the team...It certainly hasn't
been to the level that I feel is required for batsmen to play in the
Australian team. "I've said all along that I would continue to play this
game and contribute to wins to play well enough to help teams win games.
"Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been
good enough to do that. "My passion and love for the game hasn't changed
right through the last 12 or 18 months when things haven't been as I
would have liked them. "I know I have given cricket my all, it's been my
life for 20 years. There's not much more I could give," he said. Ponting
said he didn't want to dwell on his achievements believing that
discussion belonged to another time given the importance of the Test
match.
Australia will take the top spot on the ICC table if it can beat
South Africa in the third and final Test of the series.
"As far as I'm concerned my immediate focus now and I know the team's
immediate focus is what we're presented with tomorrow," Ponting said.
"We're going into what I believe is almost a grand final," Ponting said.
"I'm hungrier than ever and want this win probably more than any game
I've ever played in.Ponting started his Test career with a 96 against
Sri Lanka in December, 1995.
His teammates included Michael Slater, Mark Taylor, David Boon, Craig
McDermott, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. News Limited Network
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