Ricky Ponting dropped from Australia’s ODI squad

Captain Michael Clarke returned to the squad of 13-man squad following a hamstring complaint, while ace all-rounder Shane Watson earned inclusion for the first time this season after returning from injury in New South Wales Sheffield Shield defeat to Western Australia. Paceman Ryan Harris has also made a comeback.

Ponting scored 18 runs in five innings

The 38-year-old Ponting scored 18 runs at an average of 3.6 in five innings in the series. It’s the first time right-hander has gone five straight innings without reaching double figures in 375 one-day games for his country.

“Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the squad due to his lack of form in the five (tri-series) matches to date,” chief selector John Inverarity said. “The team will not seem the same without him, but moving on from the omission of players who have been outstanding over a long period of time is the nature of elite sport.”

“Ricky is going to consider his future over the next couple of days and he’ll talk it over with his family and with his manager and my guess is he’ll be giving a press conference in the next two or three days,” he said.

“He made a double century in his last test match and we are hoping that he remains available for test match cricket, but there can be no guarantees in elite sport and in the Australian cricket team.”

Australia Squad

Michael Clarke (Captain), Shane Watson (Vice-captain), Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade, David Warner.