Former Australia batsman Ricky Ponting, who retired after the Test series against South Africa this month, has revealed how disappointed he was to have ended his international career on a low note in Perth.

Ponting made four and eight in his two innings at the WACA, ending his 17-year Test career where it began. The entire week was a tribute to him, and he was sad about not scoring runs for the side as they lost by a large margin to surrender the series.

Ponting told The Australian newspaper: "I sat there. I kept my pads on for quite a while, just thinking about everything, thinking about how disappointed I was that game worked out the way it did. It wasn't so much about my career being over, because that still hasn't happened yet.

"Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) came in and tried to have a chat - I gave him nothing. We caught up later that night for a few hours, but I didn't have much to say to him five minutes after I was out. I couldn't see myself but I was reckon I was pretty grey."

Ponting then said that his mood improved, and he and the other Aussies went to enjoy the evening with the Proteas players, having a few drinks to celebrate the visitors' win and Ponting's send-off.

Ponting said: "We spent more time in the South African rooms than we did in our rooms, walked right into one of those drinking games that they play and ended up getting involved in that and sculling four or five beers.

"It was a really fun night, it was fun to see what their team means to them - the way they go about things and what their team is compared to ours. It was good to be a part of."

One a more cricket-related note, Ponting revealed that when he stepped down as captain at the end of the 2011 World Cup, the administrators were worried about him remaining in the side at all, fearing conflict with Michael Clarke.

He said: "Cricket Australia was worried about me being in the team with a new captain and I just said to them, 'I am here to make this place a better place, I am not here to get in anyone's way. Michael will captain the side and if he wants advice I will give it, otherwise I will sit in the corner and not say boo'.

"You have to understand that Michael and I know each other really well, we know our strengths and our weaknesses, the things each other can and can't do. Once the captaincy was done, it was about contributing to team."

Ponting will continue to play State cricket for Tasmania, but says he isn't likely to go for the big money and join the Indian Premier League.