Ricky Ponting has stepped sown as Australia captain - although he is determined to fight for his place in the side.
Former captain to fight for his place in Australia team
Ricky Ponting has stepped down as Australia captain - although he is determined to fight for his place in the side.
The 36-year-old had found his position under increasing pressure following the Ashes defeats to England and Australia's failure to defend the ICC World Cup.
And Ponting, who is likely to be replaced by Michael Clarke, has now decided the time is right to end his seven-year reign in charge.
He said: "I've had the chance to think long and hard about it and today 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 with that is that I think it's the right time - getting through the Ashes series the way that we did and the World Cup now being over.
"I wanted to make sure I gave the next captain every opportunity I possibly could to make sure he had enough experience going forward into the next couple of big events that we play, which will be the one-day Champions Trophy within two years and of course an Ashes series coming up in 2013-14, so I just felt it was an opportune time.
Leader
"The possibility of me being around for either of those series is probably remote as well so I just thought the timing was spot-on."
Ponting remains one of Australia's top batsmen - averaging 53.52 in Tests and 42.59 in ODIs and scoring a mammoth 25,651 runs in total across both formats.
And Ponting believes he still has a role to offer playing for the side.
He said: "I think I've still got a lot to offer as a player, and certainly as a leader for some of the younger guys around, if and when required."
Ponting finished with a record of 48 wins, 16 losses and 13 draws from his 77 Tests in charge for Australia, while he boasted a winning record of 76.38 per cent from 228 ODIs in charge.
Ponting is backing Clarke, who has stepped into the breach in the past, to now replace him on a full-time basis.
"Absolutely. I totally think that's the way it'll go," Ponting said. "I totally would endorse Michael Clarke as captain.
"I've spoken to Michael this morning. I've spoken to most of the senior players this morning as well, and the coach and a couple of my closer mates.
"I've had a good chat to him about it all.
Excited
"I think Michael was quite surprised about the decision I've made. He said he wished he had have known this a little bit earlier so he might have been able to help out in a few different ways if he could have throughout the World Cup campaign.
"Obviously he's probably reasonably excited about the fact I'm doing what I'm doing today."
Despite being Test cricket's most successful captain of all-time, Ponting has had to defend his record - particularly after seeing his side lose three of the last four Ashes series and bow out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.
He said: "I'd like to think that through my playing time I've achieved a whole lot more than that. Whether that be as a player or as a captain of this side.
"It's funny how we talk about losing the Ashes three times.
"Playing in three World Cup-winning teams never comes up very often, winning 16 consecutive Test matches doesn't come up very often, winning 30-odd consecutive World Cup games doesn't come up very often, but that's the world we live in.
"I know within myself and my team-mates know and everyone at Cricket Australia knows what I've been able to achieve in the game, and that's what I'm very proud of.
"The things that I've been able to achieve as a captain and as a player and with the players that I've played with are memories that I'll never forget."
