Ricky Ponting announced that given his axing from the One Day International side, his focus will shift to Test cricket and Sheffield Shield for his Tasmanian Tigers. Is this the first indication that time is catching up with him?

While Ponting had a very good Test series against India, his form in the ODIs have been very disappointing, with five matches yielding just 18 runs.

Ponting says that he will now play for Australia in the Test arena and also play for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield as well.

But there are question marks hanging over his head in regards to his future, especially his desire to tour England in 2013 and banish the humiliations of the 2005 and 2009 Ashes Tours when he was captain.

I believe Ponting will play on against the West Indies later this year, and will probably also play against South Africa and Sri Lanka next summer, but won’t tour India.

What happens after that is anyone’s guess.

I think the selectors would be wise to begin a transition period so that when Ponting retires (and also Mike Hussey), it won’t leave a gaping hole in the batting department in much the same way as it did in the bowling area when Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne retired.

The selectors for too many years struggled to find back-up replacements for Warne and McGrath.

How will the Australian cricket public remember Ricky Ponting when he finally calls it a day?