Ricky Ponting geared up to play in the Boxing Day test match.
Ricky Ponting is expected to be ready to play the crucial 4th test match of the Ashes series being played at the MCG. With the series levelled at 1-1, the Boxing Day test match holds great significance for both the teams. In the recent England
tours to Australia, the English were considered minnows against the Aussies, however, this year it is different. England are visiting Australia with their top team and a handful of in-form players. Ricky Ponting has lead the Aussie test team with efficiency
in the last half decade. Having sustained an injury in the last test match while trying to take a catch in slips, he got his left hand's little finger fractured. Arrangements for his absence were made as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 was the likely one to earn his debut and
Michael Clarke was named to lead the side.
However, Ricky Ponting was seen batting in the nets of the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the bowling machine and some local bowlers bowled at him as well. He looked in complete comfort and stroked the ball beautifully during the net session. Although it
will be a completely different challenge to face the English quickies in the match, still he feels he is perfectly okay. Vice captain of the side Michael Clarke said "Ponting said it felt pretty good after facing some balls on the machines and facing the bowler.”
Ponting is known for his mental and physical fitness, something the Aussie Captain can boast about. He is not famous for being injury prone, however, he has suffered a few injuries especially in the latter part of his career. Despite the nature of the injury,
experts believed that he would be able to take part in the MCG test match.
Ricky Ponting is well reputed for his safe catching ability and agility in the field. In the test matches, his preferred fielding position is in the slips and that is exactly where he got injured. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 commented "Ricky definitely won't field in slips.
He'll probably field at mid-off or mid-on. As long as you're pretty close to seeing the line which the bowlers are bowling, it's probably better for the bowlers that Punt's there to be able to talk to them as well. He has fielded there plenty of times in one-day
cricket so I don't think it makes much difference."
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326, Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin in the batting department, however, Ponting and Clarke have immense
talent and skill to score and make the opposition suffer. It remains to be seen though whether the Captain and the Vice Captain will leave their out-of-form woes behind them before the MCG test begins, that's something that will surely help Australia's cause.
Tags: