Michael Clarke believes Ricky Ponting would miss the Fourth Ashes Test only if someone chopped off his little finger before Boxing Day.
Ponting fractured the digit on his left hand during the Third Test in Perth last Saturday but batted for the first time since then today as Australia practised at the MCG.
The Aussie skipper first faced the bowling machine indoors before going against net bowlers outside and appeared to be striking the ball well and with comfort.
Rookie batsman Usman Khawaja would step in for Australia should Ponting have to pull out, but his vice-captain is certain that will not happen.
"Unless they cut his finger off, it's going to be really hard to leave Punter out," said Clarke.
"He'll have to wait and see how he pulls up tomorrow but he's pretty happy with how things went today."
Clarke confirmed Ponting's finger would be too sore for him to field in the slips, meaning that the Australia captain would move to mid-on or
mid-off and be replaced in the cordon by his deputy.
