Ponting retires from Twenty20 international

Sydney, September 07: : Australia captain Ricky Ponting has quit Twenty20 international cricket, bucking a global trend, so he can prolong his career in the Test and limited-overs international arenas.

Ponting skipped two T20 internationals in England to return home in the wake of Australia’s Ashes Test series loss to England.

He made his announcement about T20 cricket on Monday, ahead of his return flight to England for the end of the seven-match ODI series.

“The last 10 or 12 days for me have been a lot about reflection, looking back to the Ashes and looking forward to my playing future,” Ponting said. “The decision I’ve made is all to do with my longevity in the game.”

—Agencies