Ponting To Miss Final ODI To Prepare For The Ashes

Ponting To Miss Final ODI To Prepare For The Ashes

Ricky Ponting looks on during the second One-Day International in Sydney

©REUTERS/Daniel Munoz (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, will miss the third and final One-Day International against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, instead preparing to play first-class cricket for Tasmania in the lead-up to The Ashes series.

“As the series against Sri Lanka has been decided the NSP has an ideal opportunity to provide Ricky with two solid weeks of red-ball cricket," selector Greg Chappell explained.

"This allows him what we believe to be the best preparation to lead the Australian Test match team in Brisbane for the first Vodafone Ashes Test match.”

Sri Lanka won the opening match in Melbourne - which Ponting missed to attend his grandmother's funeral - by one wicket and followed that up with a 29-run success in the second match in Sydney, where Ponting returned to lead the side, but scored just ten runs.

Ponting is likely to feature for Tasmania against Queensland from 10th November and possible in their match against New South Wales from 17th November.

Ponting last played for Tasmania in first-class cricket in October 2007, scoring 96 and 124 against South Australia in a six-wicket victory in Hobart.

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