Ponting retires from Twenty20 to prolong career

MELBOURNE,  (Reuters) – Australia skipper Ricky  Ponting has retired from Twenty20 internationals and plans to  have “set periods of rest” to prolong his test and one-day  career, but will not relinquish his lucrative Indian Premier  League contract.

“After much thought and careful consideration I have  advised Cricket Australia of my decision to retire from  international Twenty20 cricket,” the 34-year-old Ponting said  in a statement yesterday.

“I have also spoken to (chief selector) Andrew Hilditch,  (coach) Tim Nielsen and (vice captain) Michael Clarke and I  feel this decision provides me the opportunity to prolong my  Australian test and one-day career.

“As I said after the fifth test in London, I am hoping to  continue playing test cricket for as long as possible and  retiring from the Twenty20 format gives me the best chance of  doing this.”

Ponting’s captaincy has come under scrutiny in sports-mad  Australia after his team’s Ashes series loss to England last  month, but the batsman said he was determined to remain in  charge of the side.

The 2-1 series defeat made Ponting only the second captain  in more than 120 years to lose the Ashes on British soil twice.
Ponting, who will remain as test and one day captain, said  he would continue to play domestic cricket for Tasmania and  would fulfil his contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the  IPL.

“I will now have set periods of rest throughout the  Australian summer and while touring which I feel will be very  beneficial,” he added.

Cricket Australia (CA), which has dismissed calls for  Ponting to step down following the Ashes defeat, said it  supported his decision.

“Needless to say he will be a huge loss to the Twenty20  side but it does present opportunities for the other players  and leaders within Australian cricket to gain further  experience,” CA chief executive James Sutherland said.
Australia has posted a mediocre record under Ponting’s  captaincy in the shortest format of the game, crashing out of  the Twenty20 World Cup in June.

He was excused from two washed-out Twenty20 matches last  month and the start of the ODI series to return home to rest  after the Ashes, but returns to England this week to captain  Australia for the rest of the ODI series.
Clarke, who has been seen as Ponting’s eventual  replacement, has deputised in his absence.
Cricket Australia said a new Twenty20 captain would be  decided later this year.
Australia’s next Twenty20 international will be held on  Feb. 5 against Pakistan in Melbourne.