Pontings future to be decided today!!!!!

[MohammedC]

From twitter: CA can only confirm at this stage that there will be a major announcement at 1pm TODAY at the SCG involving a senior Australian cricketer.

http://twitter.com/#!/CricketAus

It does not say Ponting but who else could it be. According to twitt something major going to be announced in 1PM in Australia. Which is roughly 2 hours away if I am not mistaken.

[MohammedC]

Sydney Morning Herald: Ricky Ponting expected to step down as Australia captain

Ricky Ponting is expected to quit as Australia's cricket captain later today.

Ponting is believed to have decided to relinquish his one-day and Test captaincy roles with his deputy Michael Clarke tipped to take over.

Cricket Australia has scheduled a media conference for 1pm AEDT at the SCG for a "major announcement involving a senior Australian cricketer".

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/...29-1cdur.html?

[al-Sagar]

Ponting expected to resign

Ricky Ponting is expected to announce his resignation as Australian captain later on Tuesday. Time has been reserved at the SCG for a "major announcement involving a senior Australian player" at 1pm Sydney time.

The team for the Australia tour of Bangladesh is not expected to be named until Wednesday, but Ponting's announcement should allow Michael Clarke to assume the captaincy on the trip, before difficult assignments against Sri Lanka and South Africa later in the year.

On his arrival home from an unsuccessful World Cup defence, Ponting had said he was prepared to give up the captaincy and also move down the batting order if it was in the interests of the Australian team.

"If that is what they and I believe is the best way forward for Australian cricket, that's the way it has always been," Ponting said, "Whatever I have done in the role to this date has always been with Cricket Australia backing - it is not as though I pick myself as captain. I am picked as captain every tour we have been on for the past six or seven years and thoroughly enjoyed that.

"But if there is someone out there better and more suited to the role than me right now then I have no problems at all about that."

Glancing towards Bangladesh, Ponting was adamant in his enthusiasm for the sort of tour he might have been rested from in earlier years. "I will go to Bangladesh if selected, the team hasn't been picked yet, and I will look forward to that tour then have a decent break after that to prepare for Sri Lanka and South Africa and the Australian summer.

"As I have said for a number of months now I have never seen a finish line, I have never come up with a time or a date or a game that might be my last. What I want to do is focus my time and energies to be the best player I can be."

At 36, Ponting believes he can still enjoy the type of renaissance that has sustained Sachin Tendulkar in recent times.

"I will know the right time for me not to be playing but I haven't found that time just yet; I guess with making runs in this last game and getting that good feeling back about my batting again might be the kick start for a bit of a Tendulkar-type rebirth if you like."

Ponting has held the Australian Test and limited-overs captaincy since he took over from Steve Waugh in 2004, beginning his tenure with a 3-0 defeat of Sri Lanka. But his fortunes have waned along with those of the team as a series of retirements weakened its resources, culminating in the humiliation of a 3-1 home Ashes defeat in 2010-11.

[Dilscoop]

Seeya Punter. Good to see you coming to your sense and getting rid of that ego. Should have done it earlier, as everyone felt this a while ago, but it's never too late.

Now I don't want Ponting Jr to captain or bat at 3. I wan Hussey to be pushed up at for. I wan Shaun Marsh to open with Watto, and Haddin at 3. Hussey @ 4, Ponting/Clarke/Dussey @5, White @6

Or Watt-Marsh-White-Hussey-Ponting/Clarke-Dussey-Haddin

Bear for skipper!

[AsifTheManRahman]

Well, it's official now:

Ricky Ponting has stepped down as Australia's captain in Tests and ODIs following their quarter-final exit from the World Cup but will be available for selection as a batsman in both formats. Ponting made the announcement at the SCG on Tuesday, and backed Michael Clarke to take over the leadership of the team

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australi...ry/508453.html

The ending was a bit disappointing, but he's still got a couple of years of cricket left in him and hopefully he uses them to better his batting.

[Dilscoop]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/conte...io/508466.html

Video

[Rabz]

Congrats on a great run at the Captaincy.
Ponting should definitely carry on as a batsman.
You take him out of the picture from the current Aussie batting line up, they would struggle hard to be a competitive team.

[cricman]

2:37 Mark makes me Cry Every time

[Dark_Horse]

Hats off! to the most successful captain in the history of Cricket.

Good luck Puter on extending your magnificent batting career just like little master did.

[Night_wolf]

Records galore for Ponting the captain

[Nadim]

Originally Posted by cricman
2:37 Mark makes me Cry Every time

Haire Mashrafi....

[MohammedC]

Clarke expected to be named Ponting's successor.

Cricket Australia is expected to announce Michael Clarke as the new skipper of Australia's Test and one day cricket teams on Wednesday.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...30-1cf32.html?

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8230392

[Dilscoop]

^ ugh. I knew it. That's not really an improvement really. He is out of form, and he isn't that great of a skipper. Like I said, I don't want Ponting Jr to be the skipper.

I would go with White

[RazabQ]

@scoop - and how exactly has White been lighting the world on fire of late?