Melbourne, Dec 25 (IANS) Australian captain Ricky Ponting Friday said he would be fit in time for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan starting here Saturday.
Ponting suffered a nasty hit on his elbow off Kemar Roach’s bowling during the Perth Test against the West Indies.

On Christmas Day, he faced teammates Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger during a gruelling net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and said that he has a ’strong chance’ to play.

“I went well today actually, I went better today than yesterday. I had a bit of pain in the nets yesterday,” Ponting was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

“I was always going to bat two days into the game. I’m really confident that I can play the game.”

New South Wales’ opener Phillip Hughes will stay with the team as standby until the match starts.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz also benefitted from Friday’s session, as Ponting said the signs were good he was recovering well from a groin problem and would play.

New South Wales legspinner Steven Smith, 20, will make his debut if Hauritz is ruled out.

“With Nathan it’s the same as me, he’s a whole lot better today at training than he was yesterday,”‘ Ponting said.

“He feels a lot better within himself than he did yesterday and had a good, solid bowl and had a lot more work on the ball, so that’s a good sign.”

Siddle has overcome hamstring soreness and will replace Victorian teammate Clint McKay.