As the legend hangs up his boots today, cricket fans around the world will witness one more closing chapter of a stupendous career in cricket. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting called it quits by announcing his retirement from international cricket.

Ponting is the highest Australian run-scorer of all time and his seventeen-year career will come to an end after the third Test at Perth against South Africa starting on November 30. The game holds a special place for Ponting as he rounds up his finale match on a ground that was witness to his debut match against Sri Lanka in 1995. The match also puts him on par with his predecessor, Shane Waugh, with 168 Test matches under his belt- the most in the history of Australian cricket.

Ponting has enjoyed one of the most successful Test careers in Australian cricket history. After being made Australian captain in 2004, the right-hander went onto become one of the country's greatest players.

The decision to retire was taken by the big man himself, within a week of deliberation. In a press conference, the batsman acknowledged his poor form over the last 12-18 months. "I believe now is the right time to be making this decision. I know I've given cricket my all. It's been life for 20 years. Not much more I can give," said Ricky.

Asked about his future plans after retirement, Ponting pointed to his wife and kids and said he looked forward to looking after his 'new team'. We definitely envy them!

Quick stats of Ponting's career

Test career

Matches: 167
Innings: 285
Runs: 13366
Highest score: 257
Average: 52.21
50s: 62
100s: 41

ODI career

Matches: 375
Runs: 13704
Highest score: 164
Average: 42.03
50s: 82
100s: 30

10 Highlights of Ponting's career

After taking over from former captain Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting captained the Australian team for more than 300 Test and one-day matches. 

The batsman scored 13,336 Test runs from 158 matches, second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar (15562 from 192 matches). 

In the 375 ODIs he has played, Ponting accumulated 13,704 runs, scoring 30 centuries, with a highest score of 164 and an average of 42.03.
 
Ponting has scored 41 centuries, third in the all-time list behind Tendulkar (51) and South African Jacques Kallis (44). 

Against India, he scored 2555 Test runs from 29 matches and 51 innings at an average of 54.36. The highest was 257 in the third Test in Melbourne in December 2003. 

He has three double tons, five centuries and 12 half centuries against India.

Ponting will equal Steve Waugh's record of of 168 Tests when he retires, the most in the history of Australian cricket. 

The Tasmanian is the highest Australian run-scorer of all time and has been described as the greatest Australian batsman after Sir Donald Bradman. 

Ponting has won more Tests as captain (48 out of 77 matches) than any other Australian.

He maintained an astonishing success rate of almost 72 percent as the country's one-day leader, winning 164 of his 228 games. 

Twit-Talk: Cricketer reactions

Nicknamed 'Punter' by Shane Warne for his penchant for a bet (punt) on the greyhounds, the cricketer will be sorely missed by his co players. Here are a few tweets that prove it.

Shane Warne ‏@warne888
Congrats to Ricky Ponting on an amazing career, well done Punter...Enjoy your last match in Perth buddy, was a pleasure playing with you !!!

Kevin Pietersen ‏@kevinpp24
Ricky Ponting RETIRES.... ONE OF THE GREATS! I always got excited playing AUS, so I could watch him bat up close. Well done Punter! #legend 

Sanjay Manjrekar ‏@sanjaymanjrekar
Ricky Ponting came out of that very typical Australian mould of batsmen. He was the quintessential Aussie batsman in style & approach

Ian Healy ‏@realIanHealy
Congratulation to Ricky Ponting, one of Australia's all time great sportsman, Cricketers and Guy. Hero to us all

Virat Kohli @imKohli
Ricky ponting what an absolute legend. Iam glad I had the honour of playing against him. Take a bow #legend #respect

Twit-Talk: Fan reactions

Phil McNulty ‏@philmcnulty
Fierce adversary of England - but lots of well deserved tributes to Ricky Ponting on his retirement. A magnificent cricketer

Sachin Kalbag ‏@SachinKalbag
The greatest thing about Ricky Ponting's cricket was his timing. He's shown that in his retirement, too

James Manning ‏@JimRManning
Ricky Ponting's retiring? One of the all-time greats. Fantastic competitor. The Ashes won't be the same without him

Dr Maunmohan Singh ‏@PMOlndia
Ricky Ponting says he retires because his "bat" is now powerless. He should have tried chowmein

Anirudh Sharma ‏@anirudh1023
I will always respect and remember Ricky Ponting for being among those few who shoved Sharad Pawar publicly!!!

Aditya Dhunna ‏@01xAD
Ricky ponting was considered as a gark horse to break sachin's record of most nos of test hundreds.Guess the record will stay after all

Ponting has been called the greatest Australian batsman after Sir Donald Bradman. Do you agree? Tell us in our comments section below...

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