Ponting pulled from Pura Cup

Ricky Ponting will not play in Tasmania's Pura Cup match against Western Australia starting in Hobart on Monday. Ponting has been withdrawn from the Tigers line-up at the request of Cricket Australia.

Many of Australia's front-line players have niggling injuries or are resting during the rare lull between the Sri Lanka Test series and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy games. Ponting played in Tasmania's one-day match against the Warriors on Saturday but Cricket Australia's "no-risk" strategy has meant he will not take part in the four-day contest.

"The call's been made by the Australian team physio and chairman of selectors," Tony Harrison, the Tasmanian Cricket Association deputy chairman and a Cricket Australia director, told AAP. "We've been aware he's been carrying a couple of niggles this season and he's got a busy six months coming up, so it's just part of player management."

Tasmania squad Michael Dighton, Michael Di Venuto, George Bailey, Travis Birt, Daniel Marsh (capt), Luke Butterworth, Sean Clingeleffer (wk), Jason Krejza, Brendan Drew, Brett Geeves, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Western Australia squad Chris Rogers, Justin Langer, Adam Voges (capt), Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brad Hogg, Sean Ervine, Mathew Inness, Steve Magoffin, Darren Wates, Ben Edmondson.