3 batting legends who delayed their ODI retirement for too long

#2 Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting

He is undoubtedly one of the greatest captains in the history of limited overs cricket. In his illustrious 17-year career, Ricky Ponting led Australia to every single accolade in ODI cricket. Ponting led the Aussies to two consecutive World Cup victories in the 2003 and 2007 editions, and also led the 'Kangaroos' to two Champions Trophy victories in 2006 and 2009.

Ponting is the leading run scorer for Australia in ODI cricket with a colossal tally of 13,704 runs, including 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries. However, in the last part of his ODI career Ponting struggled to score runs, and was axed from the squad in February 2012. His scores in his last five ODI innings read 2, 1, 6, 2, 7.

In fact, the then chairman of selectors John Inverarity said this about Ponting’s omission from the ODI side:

"Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the squad due to his lack of form in the five Commonwealth Bank Series matches to date in this series. The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport.”

One of Australia’s greatest cricketers of all time was unceremoniously dropped from the side, as his form deserted him in the last leg of his illustrious career. He ultimately retired from all international cricket in November 2012.