Ponting steps down as captain

Lily

B.R
Staff member
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Mohali: A shocking piece of news from Australia woke up Mohali. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's decision to quit as captain reached here early morning. After Ponting had announced that he would not retire, the general feeling was that he would continue as captain.

A statement received from Cricket Australia said: "Ricky Ponting will step down as Australian cricket captain in Test and ODI cricket. Ponting has today announced he will continue to be available for selection in both forms of the game as a specialist batsman."

Ponting said: "I have resigned as captain of both the Test and one-day Australian teams. I will continue to play and am available for selection in both the one-day and Test teams.

"I have thought long and hard about what Australian cricket needs. Now is the right time for the next captain to assume the responsibility for both the Test and one-day teams. We have to be doing everything we can to win back the Ashes in 2013-14 and the World Cup in 2015. It is highly unlikely that I will be still playing so it is the right decision for Australian cricket that the next captain now be appointed. This will give him the opportunity to create his own direction and legacy.

"I'd like to thank all of my teammates who I had the pleasure of leading as captain of Australia. I have been extremely proud to walk on to cricket grounds all over the world and lead such an incredible list of Australian cricketers. Together we achieved some amazing results, enjoyed some great times and have shared success that is incomparable on the world cricketing stage.

"Today is a new start for me and I am very excited about the future. I will give my complete support to our new captain and continue to do my best to set the best possible example for my teammates and emerging cricketers alike."

Cricket Australia Chairman Jack Clarke paid tribute to Ricky Ponting's outstanding leadership as Australian captain. "Ricky Ponting has been an outstanding batsman, one of the best to wear the baggy green," he said.

"His leadership as captain has been outstanding and I sometimes think his brilliance with the bat has overshadowed his fine work as captain.

"Those close to the team know his true worth in guiding his players and setting a personal example of commensurate professionalism, particularly in recent years following the retirement of so many greats of the game," Clarke said.

Clarke said he looked forward to enjoying Ponting's continuing international cricket performance as a batsman.

Ponting became captain of Australia's Test team in March 2004 and has captained Australia 77 times in Test cricket with a winning record of 62.33 per cent. He captained Australia to 48 wins, 16 losses and 13 draws.

Ponting's 228 ODI's as captain is the most ODIs any individual has captained. His winning record of 76.38 per cent is just a touch below that of West Indian Clive Lloyd (77 per cent).

PM praises great bloke

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard praised Ricky Ponting as a "great bloke" yesterday as former players also hailed the batsman, who stepped down as the country's Test and one-day captain.

Gillard said she had called to congratulate Ponting on his achievements, after he quit the captaincy in the wake of last week's World Cup exit at the hands of India.

Ponting is Australia's most successful Test captain and its leading Test run-scorer, but was under growing pressure after losing his third Ashes series against England and relinquishing his team's 12-year hold on the World Cup.

"To play that kind of role for Australia is an enormous privilege and I know from talking to Ricky today that he has felt that privilege," Gillard said.

"He's our greatest batsman after [Don] Bradman... I think all of us would wish him well in whatever he chooses to do for the balance of his life."

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