Cricket
Ponting rules out retirement
2012-01-24 12:55
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Ricky Ponting (Gallo Images)
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Adelaide - Ricky Ponting said his exuberant celebration of his 41st Test century in the fourth Test against India on Tuesday was not a sign of any impending retirement.
The 37-year-old became only the third batsman in history to pass 13 000 Test runs on his way to 137 not out in Adelaide - his second ton in three Test innings after a two-year drought.
As he reached three figures, Ponting waved his bat in the air wildly, prompting speculation that he might be about to make an announcement about his playing future.
But the 162-Test veteran, unbeaten with captain Michael Clarke (140) at day one stumps with Australia sitting pretty at 335 for three, said he would not be retiring after the match, the last in the series.
"How did I know I'd come here and get asked questions about retirement?" Ponting, 37, laughed at the first question of the close-of-play press conference.
"It was a celebration mate, I usually do a similar celebration when I score a Test match hundred.
"I won't be retiring at the end of this Test match."
Ponting joined Indians Sachin Tendulkar (15 432) and Rahul Dravid (13 262), in the exclusive 13 000-run club, but the gritty Tasmanian shrugged off the achievement.
"It's never been about making 13 000 runs or 14 000 runs," he said.
"It's about doing what I can when it's required of me to get my team through a certain situation in a game. That's what motivates me.
"Winning Test matches and winning games of cricket for Australia is what motivates me to keep playing."
Ponting said he thought his knock on Tuesday was better than his 134 in the second Test in Sydney earlier this month, which ended a two-year, 34 innings spell without a Test hundred.
"I felt I played better today than I did in Sydney, it was probably a better wicket to bat on today, there wasn't much in it for any of the Indian bowlers," he said.
"It's been a really good day for us and we have to make sure we win the first hour tomorrow and make sure this first innings is a big one."
"I'm not going to be satisfied with where I am at. You go through too many ups and downs in your career to let moments like this slip."
Ponting rejected suggestions of a poor Indian bowling attack in their ill-fated series against Australia.
"I don't think this is a bad attack at all, I just think our batsmen have played particularly well and when you put that kind of pressure back onto bowlers, most bowling attacks would look ordinary," he said.