Ponting not finished yet
February 22, 2012 17:40:19 UK
After being axed from Australia's ODI squad, Ricky Ponting faces another mini battle to keep his place in the Test match setup.
He has often talked about playing the longest version of the game at least until the next Ashes Series, but in order to fulfil that desire, he must maintain an acceptable level of form in 13 Test matches, spread over four high quality cricketing nations.
Soon after being dropped by Australian selectors, he came out and announced his ODI retirement but made it clear that he still wants to represent his country in the five-day format.
He was Australia's best batsman after captain Michael Clarke in the recent 4-0 whitewash of India on home soil and that career-saving series has reinstated his confidence a great deal.
"With the Indian Test series going the way it did for me, it reinforced I still have what it takes to be a dominant player at international level in the Test arena. The passion for international cricket has not died or changed one little bit. I still don't see a finish line as far as my international career is concerned," Ponting said in Tuesday's press conference.
He continued: "I will make a decision (on retirement) when I think I can't contribute to winning games of cricket for Australia. That's all that's been motivating me for the past 12 months. When those feelings die off then it will be time for me to hang up the boots."
When asked if defeating England in the next Ashes Series would be the perfect way for him to bow out from the game, he answered: "It'd be great to get back for the Ashes. If I am a good enough player it'd be great to be able to go back there one more time and hopefully have a few better memories than what I've had in England the last couple of tours."
Australia are 1.14 to win the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Series, while India are 1213.00 and Sri Lanka are 5.50.
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