AUSTRALIA'S greatest run-scorer, Ricky Ponting, will retire after the Perth Test against South Africa, ending one of the most distinguished cricketing careers of all time.

Fighting back tears Ponting announced this afternoon that he will step aside following his 168th Test, at the WACA Ground, starting tomorrow.



The former skipper made the announcement to a packed media conference with his wife Rianna and daughters Emmy and Matisse sitting close by. His Australian teammates also stood silently at the back of the room.



The 37-year-old told the media he had thought long and hard about giving it away in recent days.



“It struck me only a few weeks ago that my preparation was good as it’d been," Ponting said.



"But when the big moments came around my performance hadn’t been good enough for the team...It certainly hasn’t been to the level that I feel is required for batsmen to play in the Australian team.



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"I’ve said all along that I would continue to play this game and contribute to wins to play well enough to help teams win games.



"Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn’t been good enough to do that.



"My passion and love for the game hasn’t changed right through the last 12 or 18 months when things haven’t been as I would have liked them.



"I know I have given cricket my all, it's been my life for 20 years. There's not much more I could give," he said.



Timeline: Highlights of a brilliant career



Ponting said he didn’t want to dwell on his achievements believing that discussion belonged to another time given the importance of the Test match.



Australia will take the top spot on the ICC table if it can beat South Africa in the third and final Test of the series.



“As far as I’m concerned my immediate focus now and I know the team's immediate focus is what we’re presented with tomorrow," Ponting said.



“We’re going into what I believe is almost a grand final," Ponting said.



"I’m hungrier than ever and want this win probably more than any game I’ve ever played in.



“If we win then there’s no better time to give it away anyway.



“Ironically this is where it all started (Perth) for me and it’s where it’s going to finish.”



Ponting started his Test career with a 96 against Sri Lanka in December, 1995.



His teammates included Michael Slater, Mark Taylor, David Boon, Craig McDermott, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.



Greats pay tribute to Ponting



The normally stoic Ponting said he was highly emotional when he talked to his teammates earlier in the day.



"I tried to say a lot, but I didn't get much out," Ponting said.



"They'd never seen me emotional before, but I was this morning."



Current Australian skipper Michael Clarke was overcome with emotion when asked about Ponting's retirement.



"He's been an amazing player for a long time," said Clarke, before breaking down in tears.



The Tasmanian has compiled an astonishing record, scoring 13,366 Test runs at an average of 52.21. He is the second highest run scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar. Only Tendulkar has played more Tests and Ponting will equal Steve Waugh’s Australian record of 168 Tests in Perth.



Ponting led Australia to unprecedented success in Tests and one-dayers during his tenure as captain but repeated Ashes failures led to Michael Clarke taking over.



Ricky Ponting's career in pictures



Ponting was dropped from the one-day team but has remained in the Test side as a specialist batsman with disappointing results.



While he dominated Sheffield Shield cricket before the recent Test series, Ponting's struggles against the Proteas attack increased the pressure to make a decision on his future.



TEST CAREER

Matches: 167

Innings: 285

Runs: 13366

Highest score: 257

Average: 52.21

50s: 62

100s: 41

ODI CAREER

Matches: 375

Runs: 13704

Highest score: 164

Average: 42.03

50s: 82

100s: 30

PLAYING HONOURS

ICC Player of the Year: 2006, '07

ICC Test Player of the Year: 2003, '04, '06

One-Day International Player of the Year: 2002

Allan Border Medal: 2004, '06, '07, '09

Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 2006

Buy official Ricky Ponting Memorabilia here

RECORDS

Most victories as Test captain: 48

Most victories as ODI captain: 165

Most Test runs by an Australian (second overall): 13,366 runs

Most Test centuries by an Australian: 41

Most Test runs in a calendar year by an Australian: 1544 in 2005

Most one-day international runs by an Australian (second overall): 13,704

Most one-day international appearances by an Australian: 352

Most one-day international centuries by an Australian: 30

TEST CRICKET'S TOP 10 RUN-SCORERS

1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) 15,562

2. Ricky Ponting (Aus) 13,366

3. Rahul Dravid (India) 13,288

4. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 12,941

5. Brian Lara (West Indies) 11,953

6. Allan Border (Aus) 11,174

7. Steve Waugh (Aus) 10,927

8. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) 10,696

9. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) 10,640

10. Sunil Gavaskar (India) 10,122.



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