'I'm my best selector': Ponting plays on
Ricky Ponting says his passion for playing cricket is still there despite being dropped from the one-day international squad.
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Ricky Ponting says he aims to play on in the Australian Test team but doesn't expect to play one-day international cricket again.
The 37-year-old former national captain said today he was resigned to the fact his time was up in the 50-over format.
Ponting was speaking at a media conference in Sydney, less than 24 hours after chairman of selectors John Inverarity announced his dumping from the Australian ODI team following a run of bad form.
Disappointed ... Ricky Ponting understands why the selectors dropped him from the one-day side. Photo: Reuters
"With John Inverarity announcing the one-day squad for the next couple of games and obviously I've been left out of that and dropped from the one-day international team which I'm disappointed about but life goes on for me," Ponting said.
"I totally understand the reasons why I've been left out of the side, my performances over the last five games haven't warranted me staying in the team.
"John's made it pretty clear the reasons why and the directions they want to take going forward.
For the love of the game ... Ricky Ponting has no plans to retire from international cricket. Photo: Getty Images
"I'll continue playing Test cricket and continue playing for Tasmania as well."
Ponting has enjoyed one of the greatest one-day international careers by an Australian, having made 13,704 runs in 375 matches.
He is a three-time World Cup winner (1999, 2003 and 2007) and led Australia to victory in both the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.
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The life and times of Ricky Ponting
After making his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Perth, Ricky Ponting smashes a six during day two of the second Test of the series in Melbourne in December 1995. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Ponting's run tally, which includes 82 ODI 50s and 30 centuries, is easily the best at ODI level by an Australian and is second only to Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
The veteran intends to continue his 162-Test career after a recent form resurgence in the home series against India and is hoping to earn a spot for Australia's upcoming three-match tour of the Caribbean.
He restated his long-held desire to play on to the 2013 Ashes series in England but said he would have to reassess that ambition closer to the time.
"Now that international one-day cricket's not there, what I have left is Test match cricket and I'll make sure that I'm as well-prepared as possible to play every game and make the most of every opportunity that I get," Ponting said.
"It's not about defying anybody. It's about being the best that I can be and winning games of cricket for Australia."
Ponting took heart from his Test resurgence over the summer which included a drought-breaking century in the second Test against India in Sydney and a double century in the fourth Test in Adelaide.
"Yes I got a lot of satisfaction out of this summer this year because I proved to myself and I proved to my teammates that I can still win games for Australia," said Ponting.
"I think criticism is always going to come your way as an international player, everyone understands that and accepts that.
"I've never been too big for criticism and I guess over the last few years I've copped a little bit but I've always copped it on the chin and tried to make myself a lot better as a result."
AAP
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