LONDON: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Thursday agreed a deal to play for English side Surrey for two months of this year’s county season.
Ponting has been signed as a short-term replacement for South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, who is expected to be absent on Champions Trophy duty with the Proteas.
The 38-year-old Ponting, who retired from international cricket in December, will be available for Surrey in all formats of the county game in June and July.
Ponting made an emotional farewell to Test cricket, as the all-time second-leading run-scorer, against Smith’s South Africa in Perth in December.
Smith signed a three-year deal to captain Surrey last November but the club were aware he was likely to be absent during the Champions Trophy, which begins on June 6.
Surrey team director Chris Adams revealed the club had since been looking for an experienced replacement before landing Ponting.
Since his international retirement Ponting has continued to play domestic cricket in Australia for Tasmania.
He has been in fine form of late, scoring an unbeaten double century against New South Wales earlier this month and hitting 95 in a one-day game against Western Australia on Tuesday.
(AFP)
