Australia's Ricky Ponting: 'I didn't want to end career in defeat'

Retired Australian batsman Ricky Ponting has admitted that he is disappointed to finish off his Test career with a defeat.

The 37-year-old, who announced that he would be stepping down from his 17-year Test career last week, was on the losing side in Perth as the Aussies succumbed to a 1-0 series loss to South Africa by relinquishing the third Test.

"It was not the way I wanted to finish with that performance and that result," Ponting told Sky Sports News.

"I have tried to stay away from watching and listening to everything [about my retirement] this week. It's not unfolded the way I would have liked."

Ponting was dismissed for eight runs during Australia's second innings.