Ricky Ponting out of Twenty20 clash

The Australian captain, who has been troubled by his back problem, finally decides not to take a risk. HT reports.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is out of Friday's T20 tie, which begins in a few hours from now, at the MCG.

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Ponting, who has been troubled by his back problem, was a doubtful starter and finally decided not to risk it ahead of the one-day series. Michael Clarke, the man everyone describes as Australia's captain-in-waiting, will lead.