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Home  » Sports » Ponting set to join Australia squad

Ponting set to join Australia squad

September 07, 2007 14:40 IST
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Australia captain Ricky Ponting is to join his team mates in South Africa for the Twenty20 World Cup next week after his wife recovered from a health scare.

The skipper's participation in the inaugural International Cricket Council (ICC) event was in doubt after he stayed behind in Australia while the party left for the tournament on Monday.

He told reporters in Sydney on Friday that his decision had been due to his wife's health, which was now improving, and he would travel to South Africa in time for the ICC's annual awards dinner in Johannesburg on Monday.

"Fortunately Rianna's health has improved over the last few days and I'm hoping travel plans can be finalised as soon as possible," said Ponting, who has been nominated in four categories for the ICC awards.

"I'm grateful for the support we've both had from Cricket Australia and my team mates. It made things easier here knowing the team was in such good hands."

In South Africa, Cricket Australia Media Manager Lachy Patterson told Reuters all-rounder Shane Watson would arrive in on Monday.

"Shane has recovered sufficiently from the hamstring injury he sustained training in Brisbane last Sunday to join the squad in South Africa."

Paceman Stuart Clark arrived in the host country on Thursday after tending to his sick son.

Australia have chosen virtually the same squad that won the 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean for the inaugural Twenty20 world championship, although leading wicket-taker Glenn McGrath has retired and was replaced by Brett Lee.

Fast bowler Shaun Tait is another absentee, having pulled out after surgery to his right elbow, and has been replaced by Ben Hilfenhaus.

The one-day world champions make their tournament bow against Zimbabwe in Cape Town on Wednesday.

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Source: REUTERS
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