THERE WAS NO fairytale ending for Australia’s Ricky Ponting who was dismissed for eight in his final Test innings, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 17-year career.
Ponting, the second-highest Test runscorer of all-time behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar, announced his impending retirement before the showdown with South Africa in Perth after a record-equalling 168 Tests for Australia.
With the number one ranking in Test cricket up for grabs, the 37-year-old had wanted to produce something special, but it wasn’t to be as he lasted just 23 balls in an emotional farewell on Monday.
The right-hander fell to the innocuous spin of Robin Peterson, caught at slip by fellow veteran Jacques Kallis as Australia slid towards defeat in the Test and series.
Ponting came to the wicket when Shane Watson fell for 25, with Australia 81 for two and still needing 551 runs to win, setting the scene for him to produce a big farewell knock.
He received a standing ovation from a crowd of around 7,000 at the WACA ground, including his wife Rianna, and parents Graeme and Lorraine.
The South Africans also paid their respect, forming an unusual and poignant guard of honour when he strode to the crease, with the Tasmanian shaking hands with Proteas skipper Graeme Smith.
Ponting, who made four in the first innings, got off the mark with a trademark pull shot for four off Morne Morkel. However, just minutes before lunch he got a thick edge to Kallis when he attempted to force Peterson off the back foot.
Ponting loitered at the crease momentarily after his dismissal, seemingly unable to comprehend what had happened, before trudging off as the electronic scoreboard read “Thanks Ricky”.
The effusive Peterson launched whole-heartedly into celebration mode, but then just as quickly reined it in, seemingly in deference to the departing batsman.
Ponting briefly stopped his walk back to the pavilion to raise his bat to all points of the ground and acknowledge the crowd one last time, while Smith abruptly cut short his team’s celebrations for another round of applause.
In a disappointing end to a stellar career, his final series yielded just 32 runs at an average of 6.40 per innings.
He finishes his career with 13,378 Test runs at 51.85, including 41 centuries, having also played 375 one-day internationals.
Ponting shares the record for Test appearances for his country with his predecessor as Australian captain, Steve Waugh.
