World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting said on Tuesday he intended to continue playing Test cricket for Australia despite being told he had no future in the National one-day team.
Ponting said he had been informed by selectors that he did not fit into their future plans for the one-day team, but despite speculation about his future, stressed that he would not be retiring from the five-day game.
“I will continue playing Test cricket and I'll continue playing for Tasmania as well,” Ponting told a news conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“I think I proved to everyone and myself that I am still capable of dominating Test cricket as I did in the last Test series against India.”
Ponting's ODI sacking comes less than a month after his commanding role in Australia's 4-0 clean sweep of the home Test series against India, when he scored 544 runs at 108.80 with two centuries and three 50s.
His dumping also came just a day after he led Australia to a crushing 110-run ODI win over India in Brisbane as stand-in captain for the injured Michael Clarke.
The 37-year-old veteran of 375 ODIs spread over 17 years said even though he was no longer being considered for one-day selection, he would look to extend his 162-Test career in the West Indies in April.
Chief selector John Inverarity on Monday said Ponting, the second all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs, had been dropped because of a lack of form after just 18 runs in five knocks in the tri-series against India and Sri Lanka.
“John made it very clear to me yesterday the direction they are heading with the one-day team and that I am not part of their plans,” he said. “Look, it's hard to say I am retiring the day after I've already been left out of the side, so I don't expect to play one-day cricket for Australia any more and I am pretty sure the selectors don't have to be pick me either.
