Ponting says should have stepped down from Australian squad two years before his final Test

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has said that he waited far too long to retire and should have stepped down from the squad two years before his final Test match against South Africa in 2012.

Ponting said that he probably played two years longer than he should have, adding that he feels within himself he knew he could not get better.

According to News.com.au, Ponting said that he felt if he did everything he could maintain a certain level and that probably from 120-30 Test matches he did not think he could play better than he had played at that stage.

The former skipper, who was Australia's second-greatest batsman having finished his career with 41 Test centuries, said that his reasons for playing were not selfish, adding that he was playing for the young guys that were in the squad.

Ponting further added that great teams that he played in had a really solid core of experienced players and great characters and he thought that he was one of those guys.