Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting Thursday called time on his Test career, announcing this week's clash against South Africa in Perth will be his last.
"A few hours ago I let the team know that this upcoming Test will be my last," he said at a hastily-called press conference, adding that he will continue to play for Tasmania in the domestic competition this summer. Ponting, who turns 38 next month, has failed in three innings against the Proteas during draws in Brisbane and Adelaide and pressure has been building on the 167-Test veteran ahead of Friday's series decider in Perth. He will equal Steve Waugh's mark of 168 Tests in the upcoming match -- the most in the
history of Australian cricket. The Tasmanian, who has 13,336 Test runs to his name, including 41 centuries with only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar scoring more, said it was time to call it a day. "Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been good enough," he said. "My passion and love for the game hasn't changed but at the end of the day (the decision) was based on my results. "In this series so far they have not been up to the level required of batsmen and players in the Australian team. "I'm glad I
have got the opportunity to finish on my terms." 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. Australia lost a home series against South Africa for the first time in 2008/09 and a two-match series in India in 2010. Born the eldest of four children in the working-class Tasmanian suburb of Mowbray, Ricky Thomas Ponting was influenced to play cricket by his
uncle Greg Campbell, who played Tests for Australia and in 1989, 1990. Ponting went on to make his state debut at 17, the youngest player to represent Tasmania in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition, before making his international one-day debut aged 20 in 1995. He only scored one against South Africa in his first match but went on to become one of cricket's batting titans, with his Test debut coming 10 months later in December against Sri Lanka in Perth. Ponting had a rocky beginning in the public eye and was banned for three matches in 1999 by the (then) Australian Cricket Board following an early-morning brawl in a Sydney bar. He had been disciplined for a previous off-field incident. A contrite Ponting, with a blackened eye, gave a press conference the next day to apologise, but he matured into a valued mentor in the Australian team over time. His fierce competitiveness also brought him trouble. He was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for damaging a dressing room television in an angry reaction to being run out against Zimbabwe at the World Cup in India. Married with two children, he is known as a campaigner against cancer and established The Ponting Foundation with his wife Rianna to raise money for young Australians afflicted by the disease. Punter's Fact file: Test debut: v Sri Lanka, Perth, December 8, 1995, ODI debut : v South Africa, Wellington, February 15, 1995, T20 debut : v New Zealand, Auckland, February 17, 2005, Career: Tests: Matches 167, Runs 13,366, Highest 257, Average 52.21, Strike-rate 58.74, Centuries 41, One-dayers: Matches 375, Runs 13,704, Highest 164, Average 42.03, Strike-rate 80.39, Centuries 30, Twenty20 internationals: Matches 23, Runs 477, Highest 98 not out, Average 23.85, Strike-rate 121.06. Source: Deccan Chronicle
history of Australian cricket. The Tasmanian, who has 13,336 Test runs to his name, including 41 centuries with only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar scoring more, said it was time to call it a day. "Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been good enough," he said. "My passion and love for the game hasn't changed but at the end of the day (the decision) was based on my results. "In this series so far they have not been up to the level required of batsmen and players in the Australian team. "I'm glad I
have got the opportunity to finish on my terms." 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. Australia lost a home series against South Africa for the first time in 2008/09 and a two-match series in India in 2010. Born the eldest of four children in the working-class Tasmanian suburb of Mowbray, Ricky Thomas Ponting was influenced to play cricket by his
uncle Greg Campbell, who played Tests for Australia and in 1989, 1990. Ponting went on to make his state debut at 17, the youngest player to represent Tasmania in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition, before making his international one-day debut aged 20 in 1995. He only scored one against South Africa in his first match but went on to become one of cricket's batting titans, with his Test debut coming 10 months later in December against Sri Lanka in Perth. Ponting had a rocky beginning in the public eye and was banned for three matches in 1999 by the (then) Australian Cricket Board following an early-morning brawl in a Sydney bar. He had been disciplined for a previous off-field incident. A contrite Ponting, with a blackened eye, gave a press conference the next day to apologise, but he matured into a valued mentor in the Australian team over time. His fierce competitiveness also brought him trouble. He was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for damaging a dressing room television in an angry reaction to being run out against Zimbabwe at the World Cup in India. Married with two children, he is known as a campaigner against cancer and established The Ponting Foundation with his wife Rianna to raise money for young Australians afflicted by the disease. Punter's Fact file: Test debut: v Sri Lanka, Perth, December 8, 1995, ODI debut : v South Africa, Wellington, February 15, 1995, T20 debut : v New Zealand, Auckland, February 17, 2005, Career: Tests: Matches 167, Runs 13,366, Highest 257, Average 52.21, Strike-rate 58.74, Centuries 41, One-dayers: Matches 375, Runs 13,704, Highest 164, Average 42.03, Strike-rate 80.39, Centuries 30, Twenty20 internationals: Matches 23, Runs 477, Highest 98 not out, Average 23.85, Strike-rate 121.06. Source: Deccan Chronicle