Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has announced his retirement from cricket on the eve of the third Test against South Africa in Perth.
The former Australian captain has underperformed so far this series and confirmed the third Test against South Africa in Perth will be his last.
Ponting will equal Steve Waugh’s mark of 168 Test matches in this match, the most in the history of Australian cricket.
The entire Australian squad turned up for the press conference on Friday in Perth where Ponting made his announcement.
Turning 38 next month, Ponting is the highest Australian run-scorer of all time and has been described as the greatest Australian batsman outside Sir Donald Bradman.
The Tasmanian has 13,336 Test runs to his name, only Indian Sachin Tendulkar has scored more in the history of cricket.
Ponting suggested after the second Test in Adelaide where he made four and 16 that the end might be near, and his fate was now in the hands of selectors.
