Australia [ Images ] captain Ricky Ponting [ Images ] will use a new bat in the first Test against South Africa [ Images ] after manufacturer Kookaburra withdrew its controversial graphite bat.

The new "Ricky Ponting Kahuna" was developed for the start of the Test series on Thursday after officials said Kookaburra's graphite-covered bat contravened the laws of the game.

"I've had a few net sessions with it over the last couple of days and as I expected it feels great, so I hope it will bring me as many runs as my previous bat," Ponting said in a statement.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the so-called guardian of the laws of the game, said the graphite-reinforced bat contravened Law 6 which states a bat's blade must be entirely made of wood and any protective covering should not damage the ball.

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Kookaburra rejects the MCC's opinion but agreed voluntarily to withdraw the bat "until such time as this issue is resolved".

Ponting had been using the graphite-reinforced bat since December 2004 and scored 3,645 runs with it in international cricket, including 164 in the final one-dayer on Sunday.