Ricky Ponting says his decision to quit international Twenty20 cricket will take him one step closer to having a successful Ashes tour in 2013.
It has also taken his Test deputy Michael Clarke one step closer to winning the captaincy of the Australian team in all three forms of the game.
Having led Australia to Ashes series defeats in England in 2005 and 2009, Ponting is determined to play a big role on the next Ashes tour, even at age 38.
Fresh from a 12-day break following the disappointment of his team’s 2-1 Ashes failure, Ponting returned to Sydney on Monday en route back to England to play the last four games of the one-day international series against Andrew Strauss’s side.
Australia hold a 2-0 advantage in the seven-match series, with game three on Wednesday in Southampton and game four at Lord’s on Saturday.
Ponting will lead Australia in their Champions Trophy one-day title defence in South Africa later this month.
But when another T20 International bobs up on Australia’s schedule on February 5 next year at the MCG against Pakistan, Ponting will take a break.
Clarke, 28, is expected to be appointed captain of the T20 side although Cricket Australia say a formal decision is yet to be taken.
Twelve days ago in the same press-conference room at Sydney International Airport, Ponting said he’d be willing to play on for the Ashes 2013 series even if Clarke had taken over the Test captaincy by that stage.
After Ponting’s side missed the semi-finals in the World T20 in England in June, it’s going to be up to Clarke to show the way in the Caribbean in May when another World T20 tournament is staged.
Australia’s leading Test runscorer and a three-time World Cup winner at ODI level, Ponting leaves T20 International cricket with 401 runs at 28.64 in 17 matches, including a brilliant 98 not out against New Zealand.
“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 on Monday.
“As of today I’ve decided to retire from international Twenty20 cricket. The decision I’ve made is all to do with my longevity in the game.
“While I will no longer be available for Australian Twenty20 cricket, I look forward to playing with Tasmania’s KFC Big Bash team where possible and to fulfilling my contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
“Over the last couple of years I have found it increasingly difficult to play all three forms of the game at the level that I want to play them.
“You look at even the way I started this last Ashes series, going in nice and fresh and making a hundred in the first game and almost going downhill through the series.
“I want to make sure that does not happen late in my career. This decision now is certainly a big part of giving myself the best chance to achieve that (victory in 2013).”
Ponting says over the next 12 months he will gain an extra four weeks off by opting out of T20 internationals.
“It gives me a chance to be both physically and mentally fresh for 50-over cricket and Test cricket for the next few years,” the 34-year-old said.
Ponting said Clarke, chief selector Andrew Hilditch, Australian coach Tim Nielsen and CA chief James Sutherland had supported his decision, although Clarke and Nielsen at first encouraged him to play on.
“They can definitely understand where I’m coming from and hopefully we will all see the results and the benefits from me having an extra couple of weeks off,” Ponting said.
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