Ricky Ponting to miss fifth Ashes Test
Australian Captain Ricky Ponting will not be able to participate in the fifth Ashes Test against England after his X-ray reports revealed more damage to the broken finger, the team announced Thursday.
"Ricky Ponting had a repeat x-ray after the fourth test which showed evidence that the fracture of his fifth finger has moved during the course of the Melbourne test," team physiotherapist http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Kountouris-c43123 said.
Kountouris also said that the injured captain needed immediate treatment to achieve a satisfactory outcome. He added that the treatment options included surgery or “aggressive splinting and immobilization.” He said the final decision on the method to be
adopted would be made within 24 hours after the advice of a hand specialist.
As a result of the defeat in fourth Ashes Test, Ponting faces immense pressure to quit captaincy but he was confident of playing in the Sydney Test. Kountouris further revealed that Ponting’s return depended upon the healing process.
"He will hopefully commence training in the later part of the Australian summer," Kountouris said.
He further hoped that Ponting is expected to be fully fit for the ICC World Cup 2011.
Ponting injured little finger of his left hand while attempting a catch during the third Test in Perth. However, he played the fourth Test carrying that injury- a match England eventually won by an innings and 157 runs to retain the Ashes.
36-year-old Ponting is under fire as he became only the second Australian captain to lose the Ashes thrice. He is the second-greatest run-scorer in Tests after India’s Sachin Tendulkar. However, he could only manage 113 runs from the four Tests of the on-going
series.
Vice-captain Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 is likely to replace Ponting in the playing eleven.
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