Australia to go with strongest team for final ODI: Ponting

Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) Australia have no plans to step off the accelerator even after the seven-match series is already in their bag and are likely to go into tomorrow's last match of the series for the Future Cup without too many changes.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, speaking to mediapersons after practice at the Cricket Club of India, here on the eve of the seventh and last match to be played at the Wankhede stadium, said that he is concerned any unnecessary changes in the team could have a negative impact.

The only area of anxiety for the Aussies remains the fitness of Matthew Hayden who has still not recovered fully from his hip injury. Hayden, who missed the sixth match at Nagpur, might have to sit out of this match also.

''Hayden is 80 to 85 per cent fit and we will take a call on his fitness in the morning tomorrow,'' Ponting said. Hayden had come to practice today but only participated in the warm up exercises and did not bat in the nets.

Speaking further about the possible changes in the team, Ponting said, ''If we make any changes that might of only the change. We feel that we have built some really good momentum in this series.'' However, Ponting said the rotation policy, which usually creates controversy in Australia's home season, would not be dumped. ''It doesn't mean an end to it,'' he said.

UNI