I played an extra two years: Ricky Ponting

Melbourne: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who retired in 2012, has said he delayed his international retirement by two years in his bid to help the team deal with a generational shift. Ponting, who played in 168 Test matches for Australia, said he stayed on because he wanted to help the next generation of Australian Test stars to come through.

“I probably played two years longer than I should have done,” he told Sky Sports. “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,” the batting legend said candidly in the interview.