If anyone in the Australian cricket team has earned some long service leave it’s Ricky Ponting.

For the best part of two decades Ponting has been an almost ever-present in Australia’s one day and Test teams.

But when this week’s third Test against the West Indies in Dominica concludes the 37-year-old will find himself free from cricket until next summer.

The match is the final Test Australia will play until next summer’s visit by South Africa, meaning Ponting faces at least four months off the cricket field before the domestic summer begins in September.

And don’t think for a second it’s a scenario Ponting isn’t excited about.

“I’ve known for a while that was going to be the case, to have a relatively long break like I’ve got coming up for a while and for 20 years it’s been pretty unusual for me to get a break of that length,” Ponting said on Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to doing what I want to do for a while not what everyone is telling me to do every hour of the day.”

But while Ponting is eager for a bit more time working on his golf swing and hanging out with wife Rianna and their two young daughters, he says his break is unlikely to make him choose life away from cricket permanently.

“My love for the game and passion and desire to be successful hasn’t changed at all,” he said.

“Even when things were really tough a few months ago, all I wanted to do was try … and give myself the best chance to try to play well again and I felt that I got there through the summer and I feel like I’m batting really well at the moment.

“I don’t think a bit of time at home will override that.

“I’ve still got a few things that I want to be able to achieve and a lot of games of cricket I want to be a part of and want to win for Australia.”