Yorkshire's new signing Harris is Test doubt

A side strain has left Yorkshire's new overseas signing a major doubt for the match after being called up following a brilliant season in the shorter forms of the game.

Although Harris was training at nearly 100 per cent yesterday, Ponting said the call will be made shortly before the start of play.

"Ryan will play if he gets through as well as we want him to and we'll wait and see how he wakes up in the morning," said Ponting. "That's going to be the important thing."

Although Australia go into the game as favourites after Test series wins over the West Indies and Pakistan, Ponting expects another tough battle following on from his side's 3-2 victory in the Chappell-Hadlee series.

"Both teams really like to play each other and I think that's been highlighted in our one-day series and as long as I've been playing," he said.

"They've always been tight tussles and I'm sure it'll be the same over the next couple of weeks."

In contrast to the one-day series, the Basin Reserve pitch looks to be bouncy and will suit the Australian quick bowlers.

Ponting felt it would be similar to the bouncy practice pitches.

"I haven't had a huge look at it yet," he said.

"We trained here on Tuesday but I don't like looking at the pitch that far out.

"The training pitch out the back has really surprised me with how much bounce there is though. When we were training there the other day it was like we were batting at the WACA."

South Africa hopeful and former Yorkshire spinner Imran Tahir has left Titans, the Pretoria franchise.

The Pakistani-born leg-spinner, who was called up to the Proteas' Test squad during the series against England in January and then withdrawn due to questions over his eligibility, has been out in the cold at the Titans since he announced his intentions to join the Dolphins.

Tahir, in his third year with the Titans, has left Centurion, but a move to Durban is yet to be finalised.