Ponting not to play English county cricket during six-month break

Melbourne, Mar 23(ANI): Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has ruled out a stint in English county cricket in favour of rest this season.

"I haven't entertained the idea at all of playing county cricket this year.

I've got to look at what my best preparation is, post the West Indies, and that will probably be to have a couple of months off. It's been a hard 12 months for me personally and around my cricket," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

"With things not going as smoothly as I wanted at the start of the year, I had to train harder and work harder on my game and think more about my game than ever before. It's taken its toll a little bit, so I need to have a chance to refresh and recharge my batteries and get a solid pre-season under my belt before the Australian summer," he added.

Ponting was expected to feature in English country cricket during a near six-month break between the last Test in the West Indies and the start of the next Australian season.

Meanwhile, the Ponting Foundation, which aids families with children suffering from cancer, has agreed to a three-year deal with AFL club North Melbourne to help in its fundraising efforts. (ANI)