Australia Test great Ricky Ponting has announced he will retire from all forms of cricket in October.

The former captain retired from international cricket after the Perth Test against South Africa last December, but continued playing with state side Tasmania, IPL club the Mumbai Indians and Surrey in English cricket.

Ponting says he will give the game away completely after turning out for Mumbai in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in October.

There were suggestions Ponting should be recalled for one final hurrah in the Ashes, but the 38-year-old says he feels his time is up.

“While I’m enjoying my cricket as much as ever, it just feels like the right time to finish playing,” Ponting told reporters in England.

“My body and mind are in great shape and I know Im going to really enjoy these last few months before the next stage of life begins.”

Ponting said winning the Sheffield Shield with Tasmania last summer was the perfect way to farewell Australian fans.

“It’s one of a lifetime of memories that will become even more special to me in retirement,” he said.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities that the game of cricket has given to me.”

Ponting retires as the second highest run scorer in Test history, with 13,378 runs in 168 matches over 17 years of international cricket.

He made 41 Test centuries and 30 ODI hundreds since debuting in 1995.

Ponting said he’s considering career options in the cricket media as well as pursuing commercial opportunities.

He plans to spend more time with his family, on the golf course and watching North Melbourne in the AFL.