The ex-Austarlian Captain, Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the squad for the remaining matches of the ongoing Commonwealth Bank tri-series. The selectors took the decision after his dismal performance in the tournament which might draw the curtains for him in the shorter version of the game.

Ricky Ponting is the most successful skipper of the country and the national team kissed the peaks by clinching the ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003 and 2007. He occupies the second spot in the all time best scorer of the One Day Internationals by thrashing 13704 runs and falls in the list after the little master Sachin Tendulkar who has smashed 18179 runs.

Ricky Ponting has to step down from the Captaincy after the Kangaroos were unable to impress in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, there was a lot of criticism and question marks on his leadership. He was retained in the playing squad for the ODIs but he remained away from his glittering past.

The 37- year-old dispatched his last ton in the ICC Cricket World Cup – 2nd Quarter final match played against the hosts India. The important encounter was held at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad, on March 24, 2011 and Ponting became the highest scorer in the match by cracking 104 runs. The Aussies scored 260 runs for the loss of six wickets and the Blue Shirts achieved the target by posting 261 runs on board after losing five wickets in 47.4 overs. He managed 206 runs in six innings averaging 34.33 with the best of 104 runs.

Australia toured Bangladesh in April, 2011 and he scored 118 runs in three match series at an average of 59.00 with the best of 47 runs.

The Sri Lankan tour followed in August, 2011and Ponting was the second highest scorer with 196 runs holding an avearge of 49.00, the best of unbeaten 90 with two fifties.

His form started detoriating from the tour of South Africa in October, 2011 where he scored 84 runs in three innings at an average of 28.00, with the best of 63 runs.

The lack of form continued for Ponting at home grounds in the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series. He managed mere 18 runs in five outings with a miserable average of 3.60, with the best of seven runs.

Cricket Australia was disappointed with his recent form and their national selector, John Inverarity, disclosed that ex-Captain has been dropped from the squad while appreciating the services rendered by him throughout his career. He said, “Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the ODI side and the national selection panel has spoken about moving towards the 2015 World Cup. We were very keen for Ricky to play in these games because we intended to blend in some younger players, and his influence for them has been remarkable. But we need to at some stage move on.”

Ponting has appeared in 375 ODIs and scored 13704 runs at an excellent average of 42.03, the best of 164 runs with 30 centuries and 82 fifties. He has been an excellent fielder and set extremely high standrads while leading his squads from the front which was hailed by Inverarity by commenting, “Ricky’s contribution goes far beyond his batting statistics and his brilliant fielding. The example he sets in every respect and his extraordinarily positive influence in the dressing-room is acknowledged by all. He is held in the highest possible regard by his team-mates.”

It seems Ponting has played his last ODI at Brisbane Cricket Ground, on February 19, 2012, against India. His hard fought 26 balls innings could produce just seven runs and the critics believe that the master blaster should hang his boots as far as ODI cricket is concerned.