Ricky Ponting, a legend ends his career.

Ricky Ponting has attracted the universal praise in retirement that sometimes eluded him during his Test cricket career as friends and old rivals united to pay tribute after the former Australia captain announced he will end his 168-Test career after this week's match against South Africa.

Australia's Parliament temporarily suspended business on Thursday to pay tribute to Ponting, setting aside weeks of rancor to express bipartisan admiration for one of the nation's finest sportsmen.

"I am sure even in a Parliament ruled with the sort of lack of civility of the opposition we could spend one moment celebrating what has been a great cricketing career," Prime Minister Julia Gillard was quoted as saying. Gillard said Ponting's retirement meant "he is going to go into the next phase of his life with a lot of gratitude and a lot of thanks from the Australian community — full as it is with cricket 'tragics'."

Opposition lawmakers set aside recent animosities and joined Gillard in praising Ponting's "superb innings."

"He is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats of one of the very great games," Coalition leader Tony Abbott said. "He is someone that I think all young Australians can look up to."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said he was initially shocked to hear of Ponting's sudden decision to retire on the eve of the third Test, which will determine which team is ranked No. 1.

"I've played a lot against Ricky and (he's) certainly the most competitive man I've played against," Smith said. "I think the way he played the game and intensity with which he played the game is a credit to him. I think he's always represented Australia with a lot of dignity and a lot of skill.

"From a South African perspective and a personal perspective, we have a lot of respect for the man and we'll wish him best after these five days."

Smith said Ponting had been an asset to the game of cricket.

Ponting was sometimes considered surly by fans and critics if things weren't going Australia's way, but he was widely respected for his single-minded determination to win.

"The thing I liked about him was that he was always trying to win the game," former Test captain turned television commentator Ian Chappell said.

"He was always prepared to take the attack to the bowlers," he said. "He was a very aggressive player, looking to dominate. Not only a skillful ... batsman, but a very brave one."

Rivals and former teammates were quick to take to social media in praise of Ponting's contribution to Australian and world cricket throughout a 17-year Test career.

Ponting's retirement even cooled the rivalry between Australia and England for cricket's Ashes which may have been the defining contest of his career. Ponting lost three of the Ashes Test series in which he captained Australia, starting in 2005 when England broke a drought that stretched back to 1980s.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen was among those praising Ponting, joining thousands who expressed their admiration on social networks to describe his on-field rival as "one of the greats"

"I always got excited playing Australia, so I could watch him up close," said the South African born Pietersen, who is in India playing for England.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said "congrats to Ricky Ponting on an amazing career. One of, if not the best, batsman I ever played against and a fierce opponent."

Current Australian Test opener David Warner tweeted that Ponting had enjoyed an "outstanding career and will be missed by everyone."

Michael Clarke, who succeeded Ponting as Australia captain last year after being a long-time teammate, was so shocked at the retirement announcement that he had to cut short a news conference when asked about the atmosphere in the room when the former skipper first broke the news that Perth would be his last Test.

Clarke composed himself for a later television interview, explaining: "I'm emotional because he has played such a big part I guess for Australian cricket.

"He has played a huge part in my career. I have only even known cricket, certainly Test cricket, for Australia with him. He is a huge part of the team."

Clarke has played 85 Test matches, and Ponting has been beside him for all but a couple of those.

"He's an amazing player. He was an amazing captain, is a great friend and it's going to be tough to go into a Test match without him being there," Clarke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "What a player he's been. He's been a great ambassador for the sport — not just for Australia but around the world."

Profile of Ponting:

Full name Ricky Thomas Ponting

Born December 19, 1974, Launceston, Tasmania

Current age 37 years 353 days

Major teams Australia, ICC World XI, Kolkata Knight Riders, Somerset, Tasmania

Nickname Punter

Playing role Top-order batsman

Batting style Right-hand bat.

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Height 1.78 m

Education Mowbray Primary; Brooks Senior High School, Launceston

Career statistics

Batting and fielding averages :

	Mat	Inns		NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s	Ct	St
Tests	168	287		29	13378	257	51.85	22782	58.72	41	62	1509	73	196	0
ODIs	375	365		39	13704	164	42.03	17046	80.39	30	82	1231	162	160	0
T20Is	17	16		2	401	98*	28.64	302	132.78	0	2	41	11	8	0
First-class	280	478		59	23101	257	55.13			78	103			298	0
List A	451	441		53	16221	164	41.80			34	98			193	0
Twenty20	23	22		2	477	98*	23.85	394	121.06	0	2	46	13	10	0
Test debut			Australia v Sri Lanka at Perth, Dec 8-11, 1995
Last Test			Australia v South Africa at Perth, Nov 30-Dec 3, 2012
Test statistics			Top of Form Bottom of Form
ODI debut			Australia v South Africa at Wellington, Feb 15, 1995
Last ODI			Australia v India at Brisbane, Feb 19, 2012
ODI statistics			Top of Form Bottom of Form
T20I debut			New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Feb 17, 2005
Last T20I			Australia v Sri Lanka at Nottingham, Jun 8, 2009
T20I statistics			Top of Form Bottom of Form
First-class debut			1992/93
Last First-class			Australia v South Africa at Perth, Nov 30-Dec 3, 2012
List A debut			1992/93
Last List A			Tasmania v South Australia at Hobart, Oct 30, 2012
Twenty20 debut			Somerset v Northamptonshire at Taunton, Jul 15, 2004  Last Twenty20: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes at Perth, Dec 18, 2011