Ponting back in training, as he hopes to make be fit for Melbourne Test
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has boosted his chances of playing in the Boxing Day Test against England, by taking part in a training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. Ponting put up a strong performance, as he restricted himself
to fielding and throwing drills, and said that he was hopeful of playing 'pain-free' in the fourth Test match.
The right-handed batsman broke the little finger of his left hand, as he attempted to take catch in the slips during the third Test match at Perth. Ponting nursed the injury on the fourth and final day of the match, as his men romped to a 267-run victory
over England, to level the five Test series 1-1 in a bid to regain the urn.
The 33-year-old managed to field well, as he joined his team-mates at the MCG. However he avoiding using his left hand too much, in order to avoid any serious injury like last year’s dangerous elbow injury. Left-hander http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 has been called up as
cover for Ponting, but his chances of making a Test debut look bleak.
Khawaja, who was the leading scorer of the Sheffield Shield 2010-11 season, scored 598 runs at an average of 75.76 for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823. He has been on the verge of making his debut for the Australian team since mid-2010, but has been unable to make it into
the final squad.
However, it seems as if the 24-year-old batsman might have to wait a bit longer, as Ponting is confident of playing in Melbourne. After the training session, the Australian captain said, “The finger is good actually. I joined in and did a fair bit of fielding
at training this morning.”
Yet Ponting will have to wait until Friday before he bats in the nets, in order to give as much time to the injury, before the all important fourth Test. Ponting’s team-mate and Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin also told reporters that the Skipper showed
positive signs, but needed 'a bit of luck' to work the bat and if all goes well he will recover in time.
The Australian captain has been struggling with his batting form since Australia’s home Test series last summer, and is averaging 29.62 this season. He has not scored a single century in nine matches.
However the Aussie skipper will be treated to a lot of pain-killing injections ahead of the batting session for the potential series decider. On the other hand, Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle reckons that England’s tactic of bowling short-pitched deliveries
will not trouble the captain.
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