A summer full of controversy as well as cricket may be starting to get to Ricky Ponting, according to his retiring deputy Adam Gilchrist.

More cricket
Hussey on standby for Clarke
Katich continues stunning summer

While the wicketkeeper was farewelling his home ground in Perth in style against Sri Lanka on Friday, with his 16th one day hundred, Ponting again had his troubles with the bat.

Caught behind the wicket for the fourth time in four innings, the Australian captain’s series average now stands at 10.75, the worst of all the recognised Australian batsmen who have played in the tournament.

And Gilchrist said shouldering the burden of a series of weighty issues, as well as captaining and facing two quality sides, could be taking a toll on the skipper.

“I am sure he, like all of us, will have been worn down by a lot of the focus and a lot of the issues that have been around,” Gilchrist said.

“We seem to have jumped from one thing to another, whether they be highly controversial or just issues that need to be dealt with.

“Things like the Pakistan tour hanging around, the IPL, the Indian Test series and all the issues there in the (Harbhajan) hearing.

“He has had to take the brunt of it and I think we have got to acknowledge that he does that and stands up and wants to do it, that is his job.

Despite Ponting’s personal batting woes, his team still sits atop the tri-series table with another game to come against the Indians on Sunday in Adelaide.

Gilchrist says he has complete confidence Ponting will rise again, while sending a gentle message to Cricket Australia the schedule which sees the home side only play on Friday and Sunday might not be best for the players.

“He is still running the team beautifully, captaining. Still very much Ricky Ponting,” Gilchrist said.

“We have got to rally around him and keep him going, but he is a class act – he will be fine.

“It is a difficult schedule this one, not playing for four days and then playing back to back games. It is hard to know when to time your run for your major training days, and when to taper off a bit.

“This year we are juggling around a bit and there is a lot of down time with the Sunday and Friday games, so maybe all of us have struggled on the back of an intense Test series to know exactly what is right.”

Everything went right for Gilchrist on the day he most wanted it to, with more than 17,000 at the WACA to say goodbye.

The 36 year-old repaid the favour with the first century since last year’s World Cup final in the 63-run win.

Gilchrist’s last four one-day centuries have all been against Sri Lanka, and the result also maintained the incredible record of Australia winning every time he reaches three figures.

The adopted West Australian admitted he felt more pressure than anywhere going into the last match on the ground where his career took off.

“It turned out to be the perfect day really, a century in the last game and a win – that was really satisfying,” Gilchrist said.

“I must admit today was where it really hit me that it is all finishing I guess. Today was always going to be a big day, so I was more nervous than any day.

“It felt my teammates were willing me on to that hundred, I wanted to repay them, thank them and thank the crowd here, the people of Perth.

“I am saying a lot of thanks around the country and today was a particularly special one.”

© AAP 2012

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.