‘It’s great to have Ponting back for World Cup,’ says Clarke

BANGALORE - Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke on Saturday said that the return of skipper Ricky Ponting for the upcoming World Cup has boosted the team’s team morale.

Ponting had missed the final Ashes Test and the entire ODI series against England due to a broken finger.

“I think it is obviously great to have Ricky back, he has got a lot of experience and had a lot of success in World Cup. So, I think it is great to have our back he is a big match player, he always performs under pressure and I am sure this tournament would be noted for him,” Clarke said.

Ponting has scored 1,537 runs at an average of 48.03 in his four previous World Cups.

He is the tournament’s second most prolific batsman behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar, and a three-time winner of the trophy.

Australia’s first game of the tournament is against Zimbabwe on February 21. (ANI)