Injured Ponting doubtful for Boxing Day Test against Pakistan

Melbourne, Dec 24(ANI): Injured Australian captain Ricky Ponting is doubtful for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan in Melbourne after he failed to bat for a long time during the team's practice session on Wednesday.

Ponting could face only eight minutes of throw-downs from coach Tim Nielsen before he went into the change rooms to have his elbow injury, sustained during the Perth Test against West Indies, assessed by physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

The 34-year-old, who was injured after being hit on the elbow by a brutal Kemar Roach bouncer, later returned to the Melbourne Cricket Ground nets and spent 25 minutes on some fielding drills.

Meanwhile, Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke said that he and his teammates were confident of Ponting playing the Test match.

"He'll have to see how he pulls up tomorrow, but we're all pretty confident ... it looked like he hit the ball quite well, he's obviously in very good form and fingers crossed he pulls up all right tomorrow," The Daily Telegraph quoted Clarke, as saying.

"We're pretty confident. All the boys have been very confident throughout the whole week that Ricky would pull up pretty good for this game. He's a very tough bloke and cricketer and you'd probably have to cut his arm off for him to miss the Boxing Day Test match," he added.

Ponting has not missed a Test match for five years, but if does not face Pakistan, he will be replaced by New South Wales's Phillip Hughes, while Michael Clarke will change as captain. (ANI)