Home state to honour Ricky Ponting at Hobart Test

Hobart:  Newly-retired Test great Ricky Ponting will receive a tribute during next week's opening Test match against Sri Lanka in Hobart, Cricket Tasmania said on Thursday.

The former Australian skipper played his final and 168th Test match against South Africa in Perth this week after a run of low scores in the three-Test series against the Proteas.

His home state association said Ponting will do a lap of honour around Bellerive Oval during the lunch break on the opening day of the Hobart Test on Friday, December 14.

Ponting has confirmed his retirement from international cricket but he will still be available to play for the Hobart Hurricanes and the Tasmanian Tigers this season.

"Ricky has been the greatest batsman to play for Australia behind Don Bradman and that is an absolutely fantastic achievement," Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison said.

"A tribute to his career at the home of Tasmanian cricket is something that we were always hoping to confirm.

"Ricky is an icon of our sport and an icon for Tasmanians wanting to play the game of cricket and for all cricket followers."

Ponting is the second-highest Test run-scorer of all-time behind India's Sachin Tendulkar.

He finished his career with 13,378 Test runs at an average of 51.85, including 41 centuries, having also played 375 one-day internationals.

He shares the record for Test appearances for his country with his predecessor as captain, Steve Waugh.