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Former Australia batsman Ricky Ponting feels he should probably have stopped playing professionally about two years before he actually retired, but had hoped to guide younger players. |
Ponting retired from international cricket at the end of 2012, and a year later from all cricket. Upon retirement, though his later years were not as impressive, he still averaged 51.85 over 168 Tests.
Punter was the elder statesman of the Australia side when he left, light years ahead of everyone else in experience, and had wanted to be a mentor for the players coming into the team, both with the national side and with his Shield and County teams.
Ponting told Sky Sports: “I probably played two years longer than I should have done. I think I knew in myself that I couldn’t get better. I felt that if anything, I could maintain a certain level. I think from 120, 130 Tests I knew I could not get any better.
“I wasn’t playing for me, I was playing for the younger guys in the team. Great teams that I played in had a really good solid core of experienced players and great characters. I might be patting myself on the back here, but I thought I was one of those players.”
After retiring from Oz, he played for Surrey in England, in the Big Bash League, in the Caribbean Premier League and in the IPL for Mumbai.
Carberry ‘gutted’ by being dropped, again
England opener Michael Carberry was left fuming after being dropped from the Test squad just weeks after being recalled to the nation set-up, saying he though he’d done enough to keep his place.
Carberry played in all five Ashes Tests in Australia and was their second best batsman behind Kevin Pietersen and neither are in the side now. He was then surprisingly dropped from the limited-overs side, despite being the best white ball batsman in England at the time, statistically.
After an interview in which he raged against the decisions made by selectors, he was recalled for the ODIs against Sri Lanka last months. He top-scored with seven in the two games he played. Carberry, who made 73 in a T20 for Hampshire this week, told BBC Radio Solent when asked about his reaction to the news: “I was pretty gutted to be honest.
“I’ve taken a few knocks over time with my career, particularly where England is concerned. I’m bitterly disappointed because I felt I had a real good chance of continuing to play Test cricket and a home Test match. I have to try and move on and make Hampshire my focus now.”
Carberry’s form in the County Championship has been good if not great, with one century, a half ton and a couple of 40s to his name since the season began.
England confirm Sri Lanka tour dates
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the schedule for England’s one-day tour of Sri Lanka in November and December. England will play seven one-day internationals against Sri Lanka as both sides prepare for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
This week the teams completed a one-day series in England which Sri Lanka won 3-2. England and Sri Lanka begin a two-Test series at Lord’s next week.
England ODI Tour to Sri Lanka:
Nov 21: 1st warm-up v SL A (Day), Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo; Nov 23: 2nd warm-up v SL A (Day) Tamil Union Oval, Colombo; Nov 26: 1st ODI (Day/Night) Colombo; Nov 29: 2nd ODI (Day) Colombo; Dec 03: 3rd ODI (Day/Night) Hambantota
Dec 06: 4th ODI (Day) Colombo; Dec 10: 5th ODI (D/N) Pallekelle; Dec 13: 6th ODI (Day) Pallekelle; Dec 16: 7th ODI (D/N) Colombo.