Injury may rule Ponting out of first Test with Pakistan

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, remains a doubt for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at the MCG after failing to bat during yesterday's practice session.

Ponting could only join in fielding drills as he battled to overcome an elbow injury sustained during the Perth Test against West Indies and spent time in a hyperbaric chamber in a bid to speed up his recovery.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin later played down the fact that Ponting was unable to bat, saying he was confident the captain would lead the team out on Saturday. "I don't think he will have a bat until the next couple of days but he moved pretty well in the field," Haddin said. "It's not unusual for someone not to have a hit a couple of days out [from a Test match]."

Should Ponting be ruled out, Michael Clarke would captain his country in a Test for the first time. Australia would also have to alter their batting line-up, with opener Phillip Hughes returning to the team at the top of the order to partner either Simon Katich or Shane Watson.

If he were to partner Watson that would mean Katich would then move to No 3 – where he bats for New South Wales – leaving the middle order unchanged.

The other option would be to pair Hughes with Katich and then move Watson to No 6.