'This is where it started, and will finish'
The Perth Test against South Africa will be Ricky Ponting's last. Below is a transcript of the press conference during which Ponting announced his decision to retire
The lady sitting beside you there [his wife, Rianna Ponting] was the first one I spoke to about it. It was towards the end of the Adelaide game when I first started contemplating what it might mean, and contemplating if I believed within myself if I was good enough to play the way I've been known to play through the years. I think the thing that struck home mostly was that only a few weeks ago I felt my preparation had been as good as it has been for a while. My Shield form had been good, I'd scored runs, I felt good about my batting, but when the big moments come around I haven't been able to delivery what's been required for the team. That was when I first started thinking about things. We spoke long and hard and there's been a few sleepless nights over the last couple of days to reach the decisions, but I'm very comfortable with the decision I've made. I think timing wise it's the right time. At the end of the series it'll give whoever my replacement is the chance to start afresh in a new series and for me those little things have been pretty important as well.
"I've had moments of really good stuff, and prolonged moments of cricket that's been below my expectations and below a par level for me, so there hasn't been one dismissal or one moment, it's just been in my own eyes reasonably consistent failure. That's why I believe the time is right now to be making this decision."Ponting on what prompted his decision to retire
I know I've given cricket my all. It's been life for 20 years. Not much more I can give.
I want to be a consistent performer, and if you look back over the last 12 or 18 months I haven't been able to perform consistently. I've had moments of really good stuff, and prolonged moments of cricket that's been below my expectations and below a par level for me, so there hasn't been one dismissal or one moment, it's just been in my own eyes reasonably consistent failure. That's why I believe the time is right now to be making this decision.
I believe so, there's been all sorts of things in the papers the last couple of days and I know certainly with my captain and my coach I couldn't have had any more support from those guys, and they've been the ones who've been most verbal about their support. This is not a decision that's been made by the selectors, this is a decision that's been made by me, and I'd like to thank all those guys for the support they've given me over the last 12 months. There were probably moments when they thought long and hard about ending my career and I'm glad I've got the opportunity to finish this way and on my terms.
It's not tough at all, because I've made up my own mind that I'm not good enough to get there. So that's not a tough decision. When you've come to the realisation that what you can give is probably not good enough then it's a pretty easy decision.
I've got a few months of cricket yet, which I am really looking forward to. I really enjoyed the start of this season playing cricket with Tasmania and back with some of my mates - really I place I haven't spent a lot of time for near on the last 20 years. So I'll enjoy that for what it is, but this is my new team here [pointing to his family].
I tried to tell them a lot, but I didn't get much out. As I said to the boys this morning, they've never seen me emotional, but I was this morning
Thankfully for me I've never been a selector, right through my time, and probably right at the moment I'm thankful I'm not a selector again. But I guess it's really pleasing from my point of view that there are a few guys out there in Shield cricket who are scoring runs at the moment. I know whichever way the selectors decide to go with the next player, they'll play well for Australia. We've got great structures, great set-ups now around our team, the next player will be given every opportunity and I'm sure they'll do well.