Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has admitted that he left it too long to retire from professional cricket.

Ponting, who played in 168 Test matches for his country, concedes that his reasons for continuing his career had changed prior to his final international appearance in December 2012.

"I probably played two years longer than I should have done," the 39-year-old told Sky Sports News. "I think I knew in myself that I couldn't get better.

"I felt that if anything, I could maintain a certain level. I think from 120, 130 Tests I knew I could not get any better.

"I wasn't playing for me, I was playing for the younger guys in the team. Great teams that I played in had a really good solid core of experienced players and great characters. I might be patting myself on the back here, but I thought I was one of those players."

Ponting scored 71 centuries in all formats for Australia.