Ponting, Hussey rule out Ashes comeback
Source: Agencies |
March 21, 2013, Thursday
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FORMER Australia captain Ricky Ponting picked up his domestic cricketer of the year award yesterday, and quickly batted away speculation about a return to the beleaguered test team for the Ashes.
The 38-year-old Ponting, who retired from international cricket last November, led the Sheffield Shield with 875 runs at an average of 87.50.
"I haven't had the phone call yet," Ponting joked. "International cricket has long passed me by and I've just been really excited about giving back to Tasmanian cricket whatever I could for this season."
Ponting signed a two-month contract with English county Surrey and will be in England when Australia builds up for the Ashes series later this year. He will also play for Mumbai in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League this year.
Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 tests at an average of 51.85. He is third on the all-time test run-scorers' list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Meanwhile, Mike Hussey confirmed yesterday that he was happily retired, saying he was flattered by comments from Australia coach Mickey Arthur that he'd welcome him back into the test team.
Hussey was still at the top of his game when he retired in January after 79 tests. "It's extremely flattering. But I've moved on and I really don't want to be back in that pressure-cooker environment, particularly leading into the Ashes."
Both Hussey and Ponting have been mentioned as possible saviors for the test team, which was rocked by the suspensions of Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson for the third test in India and fell behind 0-3 in the four-match series.
The 38-year-old Ponting, who retired from international cricket last November, led the Sheffield Shield with 875 runs at an average of 87.50.
"I haven't had the phone call yet," Ponting joked. "International cricket has long passed me by and I've just been really excited about giving back to Tasmanian cricket whatever I could for this season."
Ponting signed a two-month contract with English county Surrey and will be in England when Australia builds up for the Ashes series later this year. He will also play for Mumbai in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League this year.
Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 tests at an average of 51.85. He is third on the all-time test run-scorers' list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Meanwhile, Mike Hussey confirmed yesterday that he was happily retired, saying he was flattered by comments from Australia coach Mickey Arthur that he'd welcome him back into the test team.
Hussey was still at the top of his game when he retired in January after 79 tests. "It's extremely flattering. But I've moved on and I really don't want to be back in that pressure-cooker environment, particularly leading into the Ashes."
Both Hussey and Ponting have been mentioned as possible saviors for the test team, which was rocked by the suspensions of Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson for the third test in India and fell behind 0-3 in the four-match series.
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