Ponting says fit for Boxing Day Ashes Test but won’t field in slips

MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has declared himself fit for the Boxing Day Test of the Ashes series before admitting that his fractured finger would face a hammering from England’s fast bowlers.

Ponting had fractured the little finger in his left hand while attempting to claim an edge at slip off Jonathan Trott on day three of the third-Test at Perth’s WACA Ground.

He failed to take to the field on day four as Australia wrapped up a 267-run victory to level the five-match series at 1-1.

When asked about the reception he would face from England’s bowlers, Ponting said: “They probably will [bowl short], I don’t know. I’ll be prepared for whatever comes my way.”

“It’s supposed to be pretty overcast. I’d expect the ball to swing and seam around a little bit. It’s not as if it has been the short balls that have caused the injury. It has been that I can’t catch in the slips,” he added.

The 36-year-old further said that he planned to move himself away from his regular second-slip position to ease the pressure on his finger.

“The boys have been joking about that this morning actually, that I could be fine leg to fine leg through the game. I won’t be at second slip, but I’ll find somewhere where I can keep myself in the game,” the Age quoted Ponting, as saying.

“The finger’s good. I’m pretty surprised how I’ve been able to train. I’ve batted a lot in the last two days and I took part in all the fielding stuff out there and just made sure I caught a few balls, just to get used to the feeling of it,” he added.

The fourth Test match will begin on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (ANI)