Cricket: Ponting not ready to quit

Australia captain Ricky Ponting says he still can't see a "finish line" in his international career and has denied an English report he plans to quit and play county cricket instead.

"Nothing's changed for me in the last 12 months," Ponting told reporters in Ahmedabad today on the eve of his side's World Cup quarterfinal against India.

"I've never ever thought about retirement or where the finish line might be," the 36-year-old added.

"I've been trying to prepare myself as best I can as a player and lead the team as well as possible.

"For some reason these retirement things keep popping up all the time.

"You probably shouldn't always believe everything you read in the newspaper.

"I'm enjoying it as much as ever."

Ponting admitted he had looked at trying to play some English County cricket this year as preparation for the Test tour of Sri Lanka in August.

"As it worked out, our programs just didn't line up.

"The Twenty20s and one-dayers were mainly on in England at that time and I wanted to get some four-day cricket under my belt before the Test matches in Sri Lanka," he said.

"So that's how that started. But it didn't work out and I certainly won't be going there to play this year."

Ponting admitted the retirement speculation was a distraction ahead of Thursday's knockout quarter-final for the defending champions.

"I'd rather not answer any retirement questions on the eve of such a big game against India in a World Cup," he said.

"I can laugh it off today and get on with preparations and get ready to play tomorrow."

Ponting repeated his commitment to lead Australia's one-day side for next month's tour of Bangladesh.

"I want to keep playing both forms of the game (having retired from T20 Internationals) for Australia for as long as I feel I can contribute and play well and win games for Australia.

"Nothing's changed over the last couple of weeks.

"I'll know when the time's right for me to step aside as captain or to step aside as a player. Right now I don't think that's the right time."

- AAP