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Symonds recovery ahead of schedule

Ricky Ponting is prepared to restrain Andrew Symonds in his comeback

Cricinfo staff
28-Feb-2007


Ricky Ponting says Shaun Tait is a great inclusion in the squad © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting is prepared to restrain Andrew Symonds in his comeback as the allrounder shows promising signs of being ready for action in the World Cup group stage. Symonds, who had surgery on a torn biceps at the start of February, is confident of playing in Australia's third game against South Africa on March 24.
Symonds said his arm was starting to feel "normal" and it was gaining in strength, but he was cautious of aggravating the problem. "If it goes again that will mean I can't throw like I used to," Symonds told the Sydney Morning Herald. "That's what we're trying to steer clear of, because hopefully I'll be playing a bit longer next season."
Ponting is also aware of the dangers of an early comeback for Symonds, who is a crucial figure in Australia's push for a third successive World Cup win. "The only thing that is going to be hard is restraining him a little bit and making sure he doesn't get too far ahead of himself and do too much too early," Ponting said in the Herald Sun.
Australia left Sydney for the Caribbean on Wednesday and Symonds is looking forward to his first bat since suffering the injury against England on February 2. "I've been trying to get a bit of strength and bulk back into the muscle and I'm ahead of schedule," Symonds said. "I'm allowed to have a bat at the end of this week. I'm allowed to hit some tennis balls. It will be like being in the backyard again."
While Ponting and Michael Clarke will be fit for the start of the tournament, Australia also have a worry over Matthew Hayden's broken toe and they are still trying to develop ways of replacing Brett Lee, who was ruled out with an ankle injury. Ponting is hoping Shaun Tait, who made his one-day debut in February, can be a "trump card".
"The way Shaun bowls, he's got a couple of phases in the game where he can be pretty devastating - and one, certainly, is up front with the new ball," he told AAP. "But through the middle overs, and in powerplay overs as well, I think he can do a good job for us through those.
"And if he gets his yorkers right and everything right at the end, he can be pretty dangerous for us at the end. So he's a great inclusion in our squad."
Ponting will also think about using Stuart Clark, who replaced Lee in the squad on Friday, as a partner for Glenn McGrath. "If we consider those two in our best four fast bowlers then I'm sure they'll get the job done for us."