Australia captain Ricky Ponting

Australia captain Ricky Ponting will have surgery on his injured finger on Tuesday in a bid to be fit for the World Cup next month and to prolong his Test career.
Ponting hurt the finger attempting a slips catch in Australia’s win over England in the third Ashes Test at Perth last month.He played the fourth Test in Melbourne but didn’t bat with comfort and was ruled out of the fifth and last match. England has a 2-1 series lead, ensuring it will retain the Ashes.

The 36-year-old Ponting wants to continue playing Test cricket for as long as possible but his immediate aim is to be fit to lead Australia’s bid for a fourth consecutive World Cup title in the 50-over format. The tournament will be hosted in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh starting next month.”But with a World Cup around the corner, I want to be the best player and leader I can through that tournament. And I want to play Test cricket post World Cup as well, so that’s what’s in the future for me.

“Michael Clarke is leading the Australian team in the absence of Ponting, who is expected to be fit for Australia’s World Cup warm-up matches against India on February 13 and South Africa on February 15 in Bangalore, India.