By BV Swagath
Former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting today has announced his retirement from International Cricket. Ponting will play his last international match at Perth in what would be the Third and Final Test between Australia and South Africa.
The Perth Test will also be the decider of the Series which has been locked at 0-0 following a miraculous draw pulled off by the Proteas at Adelaide. Ponting would like to end his Australia career with a bang to help the hosts win the deciding Test at the WACA.
In a press conference today at the WACA in Perth, Ricky Ponting said “My output as an Australian batsman wasn't good enough." he told a press conference at the WACA in Perth. I haven't been performing consistently over the last 12-18 months. I believe now is the right time to make this decision."
The 37-year-old Ponting would finish with 168 Tests at Perth having also played 375 ODIs and 17 T20Is. ‘Punter’ as he is nicknamed, Ricky Ponting led Australia to World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007. Ponting is the second highest run-getter in Test Cricket after Sachin Tendulkar. Though Ricky has announced his international retirement, he would play this season’s Sheffield Shield, Ryobi Cup for Tasmania and in the Big Bash League for the Hobart Hurricanes.
