Ponting to leave fitness decision until last moment

Ponting, 36 yesterday, broke a bone in his left little finger when he parried a catch from second slip to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in his team's series-levelling win over England at the WACA.

After X-rays revealed the small fracture on Saturday night, and Ponting tested the injury in warm-ups yesterday morning, he sat out what turned out to be the final session of the match.

Ponting was subsequently named as captain in an unchanged 12-man squad for next week's Melbourne Test, which will begin with the series all square at 1-1 and two matches to play.

"I'll have to make the decision close to the game – probably on the morning itself," he said.

Ponting is mindful of his experience 12 months ago when he declared himself fit to play against Pakistan at the MCG, despite having barely recovered from an elbow injury.

He admits that was a close-run thing – he scored a first-innings 50, and Australia won – but thinks the situation should be more clear-cut this time.

"I think, being a little finger on my left hand, it is not as significant as my top elbow was last year," he added.

"I had all sorts of treatments leading up to Melbourne.

"I had it strapped up to take the tendon out of play, and there was no doubt I was hindered last year – and learned a fair bit from that.

"I'm not going to be silly and put myself ahead of the team in such an important game.

"If I don't think I can function well then I won't play, but if I feel I can play some way better than I have been playing then I'll play."

Ponting will take advantage of several days to rest and treat his injury, before preparation steps up in earnest for the fourth Test.

"Obviously I'm going to have as much treatment and look after it as well as I can the next few days," he added.

"I won't be able to bat the next few days, but we've got a few days off anyway.

"I'm just going to do what I can to rest it as much as possible."