Ponting on track to become Australia’s most capped

FAZAL-UR-REHMAN

KARACHI: Ricky Ponting could break Steve Waugh’s record as Australia’s most-capped Test cricketer in front of his home fans at Hobart after the international summer schedule was announced on Thursday.

If the batsman plays all three Tests against South Africa in November, he will be on track to create Australian cricket history in his home state of Tasmania in the first match of a three-Test series against Sri Lanka.

The former captain, who was dumped from the One-day International (ODI) squad in February, has so far played 165 Tests.

South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies will play down under in the coming Australian summer, with the Gabba in Brisbane hosting its first Test against the Proteas in 49 years in the opening game on November 9.

South Africa beat Australia 2-1 when they last toured in 2008-09, and drew 1-1 with Michael Clarke’s team when they met in a dramatic two-match series last year in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Australian Cricket chief executive James Sutherland said that over the past 12 to 24 months some exciting new talent had emerged in the Australian ranks and the home series would be a tough test for them.

"The Australian men’s team has a chance to test themselves early in the summer against a very strong South African side," he added.