Ponting in doubt for England clash by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter

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Player:	RT Ponting, BJ Hodge, AC Gilchrist, MG Hughes
Event:	Commonwealth Bank Series 2006/07

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DateLine: 2nd February 2007

 

Australian captain Ricky Ponting is in doubt for the tri-series clash against England after suffering a hip injury in training, team officials said on Thursday. Ponting will undergo a last-minute fitness test before Friday's match, with Victorian batsman Brad Hodge called up as an emergency replacement. "Ricky suffered a slight strain in the hip region during training this afternoon and will be reviewed tomorrow morning before play, where a final decision will be made on his availability," Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said on Thursday. If Ponting is unfit, wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist will again take over the captaincy, as was the case when he was rested earlier in the series. Australian selector Merv Hughes said Hodge, who will fly to Sydney on Friday morning, was the obvious replacement for Ponting. "Brad has been in outstanding form this season in domestic cricket and was the replacement for Ricky when he was rested for the Brisbane game," Hughes said "His form dictates that he again be selected should Ricky be ruled unfit." Hodge fielded brilliantly in Brisbane but was dismissed for a third-ball duck. Ponting has been in superb touch in the tri-series, with 259 runs at 86.33 as Australia clocked up six wins with no losses.