The 37-year-old, who resigned as captain last March, contributed 544 runs to help Australia to a recent 4-0 Test series whitewash over India but Waugh predicts Ponting will soon have to make way for fresh blood.

"At some stage players have to move on," Waugh told The Australian.

"He came back and scored the double century, scored a century in Sydney and had a fantastic series.

"(But) he's 37, 38 - that sort of age. You've got to look towards where the future is, so it's always a tricky decision.

Tough call

"John Inverarity, the new chairman of selectors, has probably got to make some tough calls pretty quickly.

"It's up to Ricky and the selectors but at some stage players have to move on."

"You don't want to push the envelope too far in an Ashes series."
Steve Waugh Quotes of the week

Ponting and fellow batsman Michael Hussey, 36, will both be approaching the twilight of their careers when the 2013 Ashes campaign begins in England.

Waugh, who played Test cricket until he was 38, says the looming Ashes series could force the Australian selectors to make a decision on the pair's future sooner rather than later.

"If those guys are still around scoring runs, great, but it's pushing it a bit and you don't want to push the envelope too far in an Ashes series," added Waugh.

"I think it's a long way off to say these guys are going to be around then."