AFP

Australia plan serious hit-out against Zimbabwe

Ricky Ponting insists Australia will treat their opening warm-up match against Zimbabwe tonight (AEDT) as a "full-blown" game

AFP
05-Mar-2007


Ricky Ponting will not go easy on Zimbabwe in their opening warm-up match © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting insists Australia will treat their opening warm-up match against Zimbabwe tonight (AEDT) as a "full-blown" game. Some sides are fielding 13 players in the practice fixtures, but that is not currently an option for Australia with injuries to Matthew Hayden (toe) and Andrew Symonds (biceps) while Adam Gilchrist is a late arrival after the birth of his third child.
Ponting, who missed the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy defeat with a back problem, said there would be no let-up as his side looked to recover from a five-match losing streak. "It's a game," he said. "We're not going to treat it as practice. It's a full-blown game. The guys won't be out there having a net."
With Gilchrist and Hayden missing, Australia are expected to choose Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, the reserve wicketkeeper, to open against Zimbabwe. Gilchrist is set to make his comeback in Friday's warm-up against England at St Vincent's Arnos Vale ground.
Gilchrist, the vice-captain, missed the series in New Zealand to spend time with his wife and expanding family, but Ponting had no doubt he would make a fine return. "Generally, he does [come back well]," Ponting said. "In the last couple of games when he has had a break, he has come back with a bit of a bang." Hayden is expected to play in Australia's first group game against Scotland on March 14 while Symonds wants to appear against South Africa on March 24.