Australia monitor injuries to Ponting and McGrath

BRISBANE, Nov 26 (Reuters) Australia's grip on the first Ashes test has been tempered by injuries to captain Ricky Ponting and fast bowler Glenn McGrath.

Ponting was unable to field today after injuring his back when batting in the morning session while McGrath bowled only 12 overs in the entire day after needing a painkilling injection to treat bruising to his left heel.

Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said he expected both players to be available for the second test starting in Adelaide on Friday but the injuries were a concern with the five-test series to be squeezed into a seven-week window.

''It's hard to look too far into the future but I would seriously doubt that there would be any concerns of him playing the next test match,'' Kountouris told a news conference at the Gabba.

McGrath has struggled with his fitness over the past few seasons and is playing his first test in almost 11 months after taking a break to care for his ill wife.

The lanky paceman showed there was nothing wrong with his form when he ripped through England's batting lineup in the first innings to finish with figures of 6-50 but the injury to his heel is a cause of some concern.

McGRATH PAIN ''He's had it for a long time and it normally becomes a callous but I think just the fact he's come from one-day cricket into bowling a lot more overs that soreness became quite severe today,'' Kountouris said.

''I expect him to be right because it's not a muscle strain where he won't be up for it and you can't play. It's a bit of pain and we have to deal with it.

''It depends how he pulls up but I expect him to play in the next test match.'' Kountouris said Ponting strained his back while batting this morning.

The Australian skipper made 196 in the first innings and followed that up with an unbeaten 60 in the second, but he declared as soon as his team mate Justin Langer reached his hundred and did not return to the field.

''It was quite painful at the time,'' Kountouris said.

''He's improved quite a bit and I expect him to take the field tomorrow.'' REUTERS PDS BS1631