Ricky Ponting's international career - in pictures

The former captain is considered one of Australia's greatest cricketers, amassing a remarkable set of statistics, including most test victories as captain, most runs by an Australian, most centuries by an Australian, and most consecutive test victories by a captain Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

England v Australia 1997 Ashes Fourth TestPonting's maiden century came at Headingley. He got 127 as Australia won the match by an innings and 61 runs Photograph: Clive Mason/Allsport/Getty Images

Australia v Pakistan 1999 Third Test Ponting ended a series of three straight ducks with a 197 at the WACA in Perth as Australia won the match by an innings and 20 runs Photograph: Jack Atley/Getty Images

Australia v New Zealand 2001 Second Test Ponting's 157 was the start of an amazing period of form when he went from very good to unquestionably great Photograph: Will Burgess/Reuters

Australia v India 2003 Cricket World Cup Final Ponting hits Srinath to the boundary during his monstrous innings of 140 not out which helped Australia to their third World cup triumph Photograph: Patrick Eagar via Getty Images

Australia v India 2003 Third Test Ponting sweeps a ball on his way to scoring 257. He also scored 242 in the Second Test two weeks previous Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Australia v Pakistan 2004 Third Test Ponting's first century as captain came in Sydney where he notched 207 as Australia chased Pakistan's first innings total of 304 Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

England v Australia 2005 Ashes Third Test With Australia needed 423 to win, which would be a record fourth innings total to win a match, English hopes were on a high. Ponting battled on before eventually succumbing to Harmison after seven hours on the crease to record the first Australian century of the series with a score of 156. This was good enough to earn Man of the Match honours and ensure that the match ended in a draw rather than Australian defeat Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Australia v England 2006 Ashes First Test Australia's captain hooks a boundary on his way to 196 Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

Australia v England 2006 Ashes Second Test The crowd applaud as Ponting reaches his half-century. Ponting reached his 33rd Test century in the 62nd over, just before tea, before Matthew Hoggard got him in the 83rd over when the Australian captain was on 142. This score saw him become Australia's leading century-scorer in Test history Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Australia v England 2006 Ashes Third Test Perhaps his finest hour as he leads an Australian team containing (amongst others) Matthew Hayden. left, Adam Gilchrist, second left, and Shane Warne, to a 5-0 victory to regain the Ashes. It was the first "whitewash" in an Ashes series since 1920-21 Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Australia v South Africa 2006 Third Test What a way to celebrate your 100th test match - not only did the Australian captain score the winning runs but he also got a century in both innings and is the only player in the history of the game to do so Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

South Africa v Australia 2006 Second Test Two months later Ponting repeated the feat at Kingsmead when he notched 103 and 116 in the first and second innings respectively Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Australia v Sri Lanka 2007 Cricket World Cup Final Australia retain the trophy which captain Ricky Ponting is lovingly cradling in the dressing room Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Australia v India 2012 Second Test Ponting dives for his ground to bring up his century. He eventually went for 134 Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Australia v India 2012 Fourth Test Ponting's 41st ton of his career came with his 221 in Adelaide Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images