Ricky Ponting made an extra-ordinary contribution: Cricket Australia
Ricky Ponting, Australia's 366th Test player and 42nd Test captain, announced that the Perth Test v South Africa starting tomorrow will be his last. It will be his 168th Test for Australia, equalling Steve Waugh's record as most Tests played by an Australian.
Cricket Australia paid rich tributes to former captain Ricky Ponting, who announced his retirement from Test cricket on Thursday.
Ponting, Australia's 366th Test player and 42nd Test captain, announced that the Perth Test v South Africa starting tomorrow will be his last. It will be his 168th Test for Australia, equalling Steve Waugh's record as most Tests played by an Australian.
CA congratulated Ponting on a stellar cricketing career, describing him as simply one of the best ever to pad up for his country.
CA Chairman Wally Edwards said Ponting's retirement decision and announcement was typical of the way he had approached his cricket since becoming a first-class player in his teens and a Test player at 20.
"Ricky is always uncompromisingly straightforward and leads from the front - he has made a decision that he believes is best for him, his family and his team," Mr Edwards said.
CA Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said he and Ricky had exchanges messages earlier today after Ponting had made his decision overnight.
"Ricky has had an extra-ordinary career and has made an extra-ordinary contribution, including through the example he has set for other elite players and through the excitement he has given fans, young and old," Mr Sutherland said.
"There is much to admire, including his pride in his roots at his local cricket club that he spoke so eloquently of at last month's Bradman Oration, through to the fact that he takes to the field tomorrow for his 168th Test as one of the best prepared players in the modern game".
"I think his record until he retired as captain was outstanding but my respect for him since then has actually increased, seeing first-hand how he stepped back to become a total team player, absolutely committed to his captain, unstinting in his work to help other players and single-minded in his view that everything, including his own ambition, must always be second place after whatever was best for the team".
Sutherland said it was too early to discuss yet, but he sincerely hoped Ricky Ponting would stay connected to the game in an official capacity after his Test career and after captaining the Prime Minister's Xl in Canberra in the New Year.