Ricky Ponting, former Australian captain and second highest Test run scorer of all time, has announced he will retire from international cricket.
The 37-year-old will play his last Test against South Africa this weekend.
At a news conference he said: "I haven't been performing consistently over the last 12 to 18 months. I believe now is the right time.
Ponting made the announcement next to his wife Rianna, daughters Emmy and Mattise the entire Australia team
"At the end of the day (the decision) was based on my results. In this series so far they have not been up to the level required of batsmen and players in the Australian team.
"I'm glad to have got the opportunity to finish on my terms."
Current Australia captain, Michael Clarke, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his predecessor.
"The boys are obviously hurting, he has been an amazing player for a long time," he said.
"And that will do me for today. Sorry I can't answer that," he added.
Ponting's career spanned 20 years in which he earned 167 Test caps, 13,366 runs and 71 international centuries.
In 2003 he scored 257 in a match against India.