MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Ricky Ponting’s hopes of staying on as captain to lead Australia to a pride-salvaging victory in the fifth and final Ashes test have been dashed due to complications with his broken finger.
Ponting, whose team surrendered the Ashes meekly yesterday with a crushing loss in the fourth test in Melbourne, had been ruled out after a scan had showed he would need immediate treatment, the team said today.
“I’m devastated to tell you the truth, it was the news I was dreading,” Ponting told reporters at Sydney airport. “During the game I didn’t think I’d done too much more to it.”
Ponting broke the little finger on his left hand attempting a catch during the third test in Perth, but played under some discomfort in the next match in Melbourne, which England won to retain the Ashes and take a 2-1 lead going into the finale.
His long-time deputy and heir apparent Michael Clarke will be promoted to become Australia’s 44th captain, while uncapped Usman Khawaja was named in a 12-man side on Thursday and will be expected to take the Tasmanian’s spot at number three.
“I had a good chat with (Ponting) last night. His finger was still pretty sore,” coach Tim Nielsen told reporters in Melbourne.
“I think it’s just a situation where the finger won’t allow him to perform at his best… If Ponting was to play in Sydney and make it worse, then he could be out for a much longer time.”
With former players and pundits calling for Ponting to step down or be sacked, the injury’s timing could not be worse for the gritty 36-year-old, who had endured a dreadful series with the bat on the way to losing the urn for the third time.
Ponting had admitted after the Melbourne defeat that he had felt some discomfort playing with the finger but said he was still confident of playing the final test.
Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Ponting would face surgery or “aggressive splinting and immobilisation” and not be expected to be able to train until the later part of the Australian summer.
He would be expected to be fully fit for the World Cup in February, Kountouris added.
Ponting, who also conceded the urn on tours in 2005 and last year, said retirement was the last thing on his mind.
“I’m not thinking about it at all,” he said.
The Tasmanian, the second-most prolific run-scorer in test history, had averaged just 16 in the series and scored only a single half-century on the final afternoon of the drawn first test in Brisbane.
Clarke, whose own form at the crease has been woeful, led Australia to the Twenty20 World Cup final earlier this year and won both plaudits for his astute captaincy, if not for his struggles with the bat throughout the tournament.
The 29-year-old made it clear he thought his appointment only temporary.
“I’ve always said Ricky Ponting has been my leader, my captain from day one and I’m certain he’ll be back captaining as soon as possible,” he said.
Nielsen backed Clarke as a “natural leader” who would thrive in the role.
“I think over the next couple of weeks, the Australian public will see a different Michael Clarke,” he said.
“He can relax. He’s not the man-in-waiting, he’s the man.”
Uncapped 26-year-old Michael Beer, who carried the drinks in both Perth and Melbourne, has been retained in the 12-man squad for the test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where spinners are traditionally rewarded with turn.
Doug Bollinger, dropped after struggling in the heat during Australia’s trouncing in the second test in Adelaide, has been recalled in place of Ryan Harris, who has been sidelined for up to 12 weeks with an ankle fracture.
Bollinger will vie with Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus for the likely three places for seamers.
Khawaja, a free-scoring Pakistan-born 24-year-old, holds a 51 average from 27 first-class matches and carries solid form with Sheffield Shield side New South Wales into the Sydney test.
“It’s been a childhood dream for me,” said Khawaja, who would stand to become Australia’s first Muslim test cricketer.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to play for Australia. I’m just jumping out of my boots and hoping I get the opportunity… If I get my chance, I’ll have fun out there.”
Khawaja becomes another youthful addition to a team battling to fast-track rookies into test-quality players, including 22-year-old opener Phillip Hughes and 21-year-old all rounder Steve Smith, who have both struggled since being called up for the third Perth test.
Nielsen said the young players deserved sympathy and patience from selectors and Australia’s demanding public.
“We haven’t been in this period (of rebuilding) for a while,” he said. “That’s the golden question — how do you fast-track players?”
“The only way they can do that is by playing… Getting it done faster means giving them an opportunity and not expecting miracles overnight.”
