Ponting, 36, told a packed
news conference in Sydney his resignation as Test and One-Day International
captain was effective immediately, but that he wanted to be considered for
selection as a batsman.
“I think it's the right time,”
he said. “Getting through the Ashes series the way that we did and the World Cup
now over, I wanted to make sure I gave the next captain every opportunity I
possibly could to make sure he had as much experience going forward into the
next couple of events we'll play.” He endorsed Michael Clarke as his successor
as captain.
Australia's World Cup
quarterfinal loss to India last week - the defending champions' worst result at
the competition in two decades - followed a 1-3 loss to England in the Ashes
series that ended earlier this year.
The losses added pressure to
Ponting's leadership and prompted Cricket Australia to announce a comprehensive
review of all aspects of the team.
“The fact that we went out of
the World Cup when we did was the main reason for it,” Ponting said. “I have
had no tap on the shoulder from anybody. This is a decision that has been
wholly and solely made by me and people close to me.” Ponting is Australia's
most successful captain on paper.
Australia won 48 of the 77 Tests
Ponting led as captain — including a record-equaling run of 16 consecutive
victories between Dec.2005 and Jan. 2008. Australia also won 163 of 227 ODIs
under Ponting.
Ponting has won three World
Cups, two as captain when Australia didn't lose a match, and a Champions Trophy.
But his record has been
slipping — three Ashes series defeats in four series have proved costly to his
popularity in Australia — and his return from injury to helm this year's World
Cup squad was increasingly viewed as a litmus Test for his career as captain.
Some lackluster batting
performances and visible tetchiness on and off the pitch during the World Cup
did not help his image, and back-to-back losses to Pakistan and India within
six days ended Australia's run of 34-unbeaten World Cup matches.
The one bright note was his
104 against India at Ahmedabad last week. It was his first century in 13
months, and helped convince him that he still had something to offer, though
not as captain.
“The fact that I probably
proved to myself in the last one day game the other day that I've still got
what it takes to play a good international innings was something that was
really important to me,” Ponting said.
“Now that I don't have all
the extra responsibility of the captaincy as well, I would like to think I
could turn myself into a better player than what I've shown in the past six
months.” Ponting's statistics as a batsman remain impressive - he has 13,288 runs
from 359 ODIs dating back to 1995, and 12,363 Test runs with 39 hundreds.
In terms of centuries and
runs scored in international cricket, Ponting is second only to Indian great
Tendulkar, who is aiming for his 100th international century when India plays
Pakistan in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Ponting said Clarke had his
total support as his successor as captain, saying Clarke had proven himself in
first-class leader during stints at the helm of Australia's Twenty20 and
one-day sides in recent times.
Australian Prime Minister
Julia Gillard described Ponting as the nation's greatest batsman after Don
Bradman, saying she telephoned the outgoing captain after his announcement and
told him he deserved the highest congratulations on his cricketing career.
“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,” she said.
Cricket Australia acting CEO Michael Brown said the board
would meet later Tuesday to hear recommendations on captain and vice-captain
from the chairman of selectors, and a decision would be make later. He said the
positions were open to any active players, though he conceded that Clarke was a
“very hot candidate.” Brown paid tribute to Ponting for overseeing “arguably
the most successful Australian team performance in the history of the game.” “He
has played a very significant part in the rebuilding of Australian cricket, and
is handing it over at an appropriate time to his successor,” Brown said.
Ponting said he would give
his full support to whoever becomes captain.
“It's my turn to step away
and completely hand over to the next captain,” he said. “Obviously whoever that
may be will have my full and total support as long as my playing days are here.”
He said he hoped to be among the players named Wednesday in the Australian
squad heading to Bangladesh next month for a three-game tour.
“I am keen to stay around and
play a little bit longer,” he said. “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 if and when required.”
