'We'd like to judged against the best'

Welcoming the news of Sachin's availability, Ricky Ponting said they would like to be judged by playing against the best Indian team.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on Saturday welcomed the news of Sachin Tendulkar being declared fit for the Nagpur Test beginning on Tuesday, saying the Australians would like to be judged by playing against the best Indian team.

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"From the spectators' point of view, Sachin's absence from the first two Test matches because of the tennis elbow was very disappointing. It is good that he is fit now as we (Aussie team) want to be judged against the best," Ponting told reporters upon his arrival here.

Ponting, who missed the first two Tests in the ongoing series because of a thumb injury, said he would utilise his time to be match-fit for the November 3-7 fourth and final Test in Mumbai.

"I am very excited to be back in the thick of things as I am fit to play the fourth and final Test at Mumbai and would like to utilise the time before that to be with my teammates and do some practice to be match-fit," he said.

On his previous poor showing on Indian soil, Ponting said: "I had a pretty ordinary series in 2001 and I was hoping to set it right this time around, but unfortunately the thumb injury I sustained during the Champions Trophy semi-final against England has kept me out of action in the first three matches."