Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has
revealed he will retire from international cricket at the end of the
third Test against South Africa.
The 37-year-old, who is the second highest run scorer in Test
history, announced his decision in Perth, drawing to an end a 17-year
career at the highest level.Ponting's
future has been the subject of much speculation following poor
performances against the Proteas in Brisbane and Adelaide, scoring just
20 runs.On the fourth morning of the Adelaide Oval Test he admitted that he was unsure about his place in the team, conceding that there was a real chance he would be dropped for Perth.
Coach Mickey Arthur, captain Michael Clarke
and senior batsman Mike Hussey all threw their support behind Ponting
following the second Test, insisting a return to form was not far away.But with a three-Test series to come against Sri Lanka later this summer ahead of back-to-back Ashes series away and then at home against England, Ponting has decided to fall on his sword.
"It's a decision I thought long and hard about, put in long consideration about the decision, at the end of the day it was about my results and my output in this series so far," said Ponting.
"It hasn't been to the level required for batsmen and players in the Australian team. My level of performance hasn't been good enough.
"This is not a decision that's been made by the selectors, this a decision that has been made by me. I'm glad I've got the opportunity to go out on my terms."
Debut
The Perth Test will be Ponting's 168th, meaning he will finish his career level with former captain Steve Waugh as Australia's most-capped Test player.Heading into his final match the Tasmanian, who will turn 38 next month, has scored an Australian-record 13,366 runs at an average of 52.21, including 41 centuries and a highest score of 257.
His 48 Test wins as captain was another Australian record, although his leadership will also be remembered for three Ashes defeats, the first of them in 2005 coming after his country had held the famous urn for 16 years.
After making his debut in 1995/96 against Sri Lanka, scoring 96 before being given out LBW to a delivery that appeared set to bounce over the top of the stumps, Ponting became Australia's most prolific batsman.
His international career will now wind down at the same ground where it began against Sri Lanka.
Ponting was named ICC Player of the Year twice, in 2006 and '07, the international body's Test player of the year three times - in 2003, '04 and '06 - won the Allan Border Medal in 2004, '06, '07 and '09 and as well as being the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2006 was also CricInfo's Player of the Decade for 2000-09.
http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12175/8293282/Ricky-Ponting-to-quit-international-cricket-after-a-17-year-career
Pointing's retirement is just not end of one magnificent career but a deep friendly rivalry which we posses as die hard india fans. At a movement we may feel that a Australia is easy to counter but we also will miss great excitement in play we use to posses in watching the game. His strong & anchoring stands against any ball attack which make us every ball count will be missed. There will be many good players but a rare breed of test players like him will be always felt missing.
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