Australia axe Ponting
Inverarity suggests former captain's ODI career could be over
Last Updated: February 20, 2012 6:21pm
Ricky Ponting: Has been dropped by Australia
Ricky Ponting's one-day international career could be over after he was dropped for Australia's next two Commonwealth Bank Series matches against Sri Lanka and India.
Ponting has paid the price for a dismal run of form which has seen the former World Cup-winning captain amass just 18 runs from five innings.
And national selector John Inverarity has suggested that the 37-year-old's time as a limited-overs international could be at an end.
"Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the squad due to his lack of form in the five Commonwealth Bank Series matches to date in this series," Inverarity said in a statement.
"The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport.
Ponting's ODI record
Matches: 375
Debut: Against South Africa at Wellington on February 15, 1995
Runs: 13,704
Centuries: 30
Batting average: 42.03
Highest score: 164
Wickets: 3
"Ricky's record speaks for itself. He is one of the truly great performers in the history of Australian ODI cricket, with his reputation enhanced further by him captaining Australia to two World Cup victories.
Influence
"Ricky's contribution goes far beyond his batting statistics and his brilliant fielding. The example he sets in every respect and his extraordinarily positive influence in the dressing-room is acknowledged by all.
"He is held in the highest possible regard by his team-mates and there is no higher accolade than this."
The Tasmanian's omission comes just a day after he led the side once more, having been asked to deputise for two games in the absence of current skipper Michael Clarke.
Ponting has played in 375 one-day internationals for his country, scoring 13,704 runs at an average of 42. He has hit 82 half-centuries and 30 hundreds, as well as taking 160 catches.
Clarke returns to the squad following a hamstring injury, while pace bowler Ryan Harris replaces Mitchell Starc. Shane Watson is also back following injury.
Inverarity went on to add that Matthew Wade was now the side's preferred wicketkeeper, with the 24-year-old set to tour the West Indies alongside out-of-form Test gloveman Brad Haddin.
