Ponting looks good to play in Melbourne, says Clarke
December 24th, 2010 - 2:45 pm ICT by IANSMelbourne, Dec 24 (IANS) Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke Friday said that skipper Ricky Ponting is almost certain to play in the fourth Ashes Test against England starting here Sunday. Clarke said Ponting felt good after a net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and it will be difficult to keep him out of action on the Boxing Day. Ponting suffered a finger fracture while catching at slips in the Perth Test, which Australia won to level the series 1-1.
“He (Ponting) said it felt pretty good after facing some balls on the machine,” Clarke was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.
“Unless they cut his finger off, it is going to be very hard to keep him out.”
Clarke spoke about his erratic form in the Ashes and said he is confident of a turnaround at the MCG.
“I feel like I am doing all the work, I feel like I am training hard, so hopefully there are some runs for me for Christmas.”
“I certainly do not feel like I am out of form,” he said.
Ponting’s possible replacement, Usman Khawaja, also had good batting session after a failure against Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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- Australia '100 per cent behind' stand-in captain Clarke: Haddin - Dec 31, 2010
- Ponting 'devastated' over missing fifth Ashes Test - Dec 30, 2010
- Injured Ponting out of fifth Ashes Test - Dec 30, 2010
- Oz selectors face hard choice to retain Ponting at No 3: Waugh - Jan 04, 2011
- I'm not here to fill Ponting's shoes, says Usman Khawaja - Dec 31, 2010
- Arthur backs Khawaja to come good in Tests - Dec 17, 2011
- Chappell doesn't want Ponting in dressing room - Jan 03, 2011
- Khawaja says he's ready for Test call up if Punter pulls out - Dec 20, 2010
- We will keep India under pressure, says Hussey - Dec 23, 2011
- Desperate Ponting ready to risk long-term injury to play Boxing Day Test - Dec 22, 2010
Tags: balls, boxing day, captain michael, daily telegraph, dec 24, fourth ashes test, fracture, khawaja, mcg, melbourne cricket ground, michael clarke, perth, ricky, series 1, skipper, slips, sydney cricket ground, turnaround, vice captain, victoria