HOBART, Mar 20: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting picked up his domestic cricketer of the year award today, and quickly batted away speculation about a return to the beleaguered Test team for the Ashes.
The 38-year-old Ponting, who retired from international cricket last November, led the Sheffield Shield with 875 runs at an average of 87.50, including an unbeaten 200 in a recent match. Tasmania will host the first-class final beginning Friday against Queensland.
“I haven’t had the phone call yet,” Ponting joked.
“International cricket has long passed me by and I’ve just been really excited about giving back to Tasmanian cricket whatever I could for this season.
“The decision you make to retire, when you do, is a very big one. I know I put a lot of time and thought into making the decision that I made for all the right reasons.”
Ponting signed a two-month contract with English county Surrey and will be in England when Australia builds up for the Ashes series later this year. He will also play for Mumbai in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League this year.
Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 tests at an average of 51.85. He is third on the all-time test run-scorers’ list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Raul Dravid.
Meanwhile, Mike Hussey confirmed today that he was happily retired, saying he was flattered by comments from Australia coach Mickey Arthur that he’d welcome him back into the Test team.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel