Ricky Ponting set to draw stumps on glittering Test career

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has announced his decision to retire from international cricket.

Ponting had already stepped away from the one-day format of the game but tomorrow’s Third Test against South Africa in Perth will be his 168th and final appearance in the Baggy Green.

The 37-year-old has been out of sorts with the bat during the current series, managing just 20 runs which led to speculation about his future.

Ponting made his international debut back in 1995 but ended his one-day international ambitions in February of this year.

He has amassed 13,366 runs at an average of 52.21 and scored 41 centuries and 62 half-centuries.

Announcing his retirement, Ponting (above) said: “I haven’t been performing consistently over the past 12 to 18 months. I believe now is the right time [to go]. This is a decision not made by the selectors, it was made by me.

“I’ve said all along that I would continue to play as long as I could continue to make a contribution to wins and I think over the last couple of weeks my performance has not been good enough to do that. I’ve given cricket my all, it’s been my life for 20 years, there’s not much more I can give.”