Ricky Ponting retires from One Day International

Australia's two time world cup winning Captain Ricky ponting admits that his one day career is over. Ponting announced his decision at a press conference the day after he was dropped from the Australian one day team. But, he said that he will continue to play in the test version of the game. Ponting is the captain who led Australia in most one day internationals. He was the member of Australia's three world cup won squad. Under his captaincy Australia won two world cups. His one day sacking came in less than a month after a superb performance in Australia's 4-0 clean sweep of home test series against India. He scored 544 runs at a average of 108.80 with two centuries and three fifties.

The 37 year old, nicknamed 'Punter' is a specialist right handed batsman, slips and close catching fielder and an occasional bowler. He represents Tasmanian Tigers in Australian domestic cricket. Ponting Also told that he will continue to play for Tasmania tigers.

The most successful captain in the history of Austra;lian cricket is getting down the steps after involved in over 370 one day internationals. He is the only cricketer in the history to be involved in 100 test victories. He completed 13000 runs in ODI's and stands second to Sachin Tendulkar. Although Ponting has not stated categorically that he was retiring from one dayers, he had conceded that he had been informed by the national selector John Inverarity that he did not fit into the selectors plan in the 50-over format as they eyeing on the 2015 world cup. Ponting made it clear that he knew the reasons an why the national selectors are looking forward to building a team for the next world cup of which he is not the part.

Ponting has been criticized for his lack of imagination in captaincy though many players played under him say he is a good leader. Ponting is an aggressive competitor, as manifested in his own field conduct.According to former Australian captain Allan Border, what you see with Ponting is what you gets and "he wears his heart on his sleeves. "Border also noted that Ponting has an abundance of courage, determination and skills. The retirement of Ponting will be a great loss to Australian cricket team.