Ponting stepping down as Australian cricket captain

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With the cricket world gearing up for the semi-final round of the World Cup, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has sent a shock-wave through the sport. Ponting, announcing Tuesday, his retirement as Australia cricket captain, ending a nine-year career that has made him one of the country's most successful skippers.

He said, "I've decided to stand down as captain of the test team and the one day team as of now. The main reason for me was that it's the right time."

The 36 year old Ponting's exit comes on the heels of Australia's early World Cup exit. Australia went to the World Cup as two-time defending champions but returned home after defeat to India in the quarter-finals.

Ponting is Australia's most successful captain to date. He led Australia to wins in 48 of 77 tests, including a record-equalling run of 16 consecutive victories between December 2005 and January 2008. Ponting has won three World Cups, two as captain when Australia didn't lose a match, and a Champions Trophy.

Ponting said that his resignation as test and one-day international captain was effective immediately, but that he wanted to be considered for selection as a batsman.

He said, "All that being said, I've made it very clear to the selectors that I'm still available for selection in both forms of the game, so hopefully they will pick me and I will be on a plane to Bangladesh in the next couple of days. But I am keen to stay around and play a little bit longer. With the team where it is at the moment, I think I have a lot to offer as a player and certainly as a leader for some of the younger guys around if and when requir! ed."

Editor:Zhang Jingya |Source: CNTV.CN


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