Clarke thinks Ponting will be ready for MCG
Australian vice captain Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 has backed captain Ricky Ponting, ahead of the fourth Ashes Test match set to start on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Clarke feels that Ponting has recovered substantially from the finger injury which he sustained during the third Test match, while attempting to take a catch off Jonathan Trott in the slips during England’s second innings. Ponting fractured
the little finger of his left hand, however the injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the crucial match, that is set to attract a record audience at one of the biggest sporting venues in the world.
The Australian selectors had kept Usman Khawja in the squad as cover for the match, yet it seems that the left-hander will have to wait even longer for his debut, after being on the verge of selection since June this year. Ponting had
a net session at the venue on the eve of the test, and Clarke tolf reporters that the skipper was raring to go.
Clarke also revealed that the Aussie skipper would not be taking his place in the slips especially, as he was still not 100 percent fit, and does not want to risk another blow to the damaged finger.
"He said it felt pretty good after facing some balls on the machines, and facing the bowlers," vice-captain Michael Clarke said. "We're all hopeful and confident. Unless they cut his finger off, it's going to be really hard to leave Punter
out. He's going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how it pulls up after having a bat today. But he's pretty happy with how things went today," he added.
Clarke himself has had some problems with fitness, and was in serious jeopardy at the start of the series at the Gabba last month. On that occasion too Khawja was called up as his cover for the match at Brisbane, however he recovered in
time to take the field. In the second test at Adelaide he was the lone shining light for the hosts, as they crashed to an innings defeat. Clarke scored 80 before falling to the last ball of the fourth day of the Test.
The Australian vice-captain added that he was ready to bowl his left arm orthodox spin whenever Ponting require, especially as the wickets for the last two Tests are set to suit the slower bowlers.
"The ball's coming out of my hand okay as well," Clarke said. "I've been bowling pretty well in the nets. I've been fit to bowl in every Test. Having Steve Smith in the team gives them that option as well. Conditions will play the biggest
part there, they'll wait and see what the wicket is like tomorrow, I would imagine," he added.
Clarke though conceded that his batting was a worry for him, and he was trying his hardest to post a big score in the series, which is nicely poised at the moment. The hosts have to win at least one more Test, and ensure that they don
not lose the other if they are to regain the all important Ashes urn, which they relinquished in another absorbing five Test battle in England last year.
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