Ponting cautions Hayden and Symonds over comebacks

Ricky Ponting says the injured pair of Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden must be careful not to get ahead of themselves as their recoveries continue to show encouraging signs. Both batsmen have come through net sessions in St Vincent this week and Ponting has spoken with them about the need to take things easy.

"If 'Symo' got some sort of bump or knock on his shoulder, it might put him back a week - and we really can't afford that," Ponting said in the Herald Sun. Symonds is aiming to return from a serious biceps injury against South Africa on March 24 while Hayden, who has a broken toe, is expected to miss both warm-up games against Zimbabwe tonight (AEDT) and England on Friday. "I have told both of those guys to get away for a while and do what they have to do," Ponting said, "but be really careful as well."

Symonds has trained under the watchful eyes of Alex Kountouris, the physiotherapist, and John Buchanan. "It's great to see Symo with a bat in his hand," Ponting said. "That's terrific news, but still we have to be really careful with him."

Ponting has doubted the role of the World Cup minnows during the six-week tournament. Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, The Netherlands and Canada will compete in the 16-team event, which has its first game on March 13, and Ponting said he has "never been a fan" of the smaller countries taking part.

"I have always thought there are probably places and times for minnow nations to be playing," he said. "I am not sure if the World Cup and Champions Trophy is one of those times."