Ponting rests foot injury ahead of Travelex tour

A stress fracture in Ricky Ponting's left foot should not prevent him from taking a full part in the Travelex Australian tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, it was confirmed today.

The injury was revealed by a recent scan, but although the 27 year-old Tasmania captain is being rested from the Tigers' ING Cup match against the New South Wales Blues in Devonport this Sunday, there is no question of the problem stopping him from taking part in the tour that departs on 14 February.

Ricky Ponting said: "The soreness in my foot had been niggling away for some time and I was waiting for it to go away.

"When it didn't, we decided to get my foot checked out and that revealed the stress fracture.

"I think I've shown during the VB Series that my mobility isn't really affected at all and if the situation is managed properly it's not something that should prevent me from playing," he added.

Australia is scheduled to play three Test matches against South Africa in Johannesburg (22 - 26 February), Cape Town (8 - 12 March) and Durban (15 - 19 March), followed by seven one-day internationals.

It is then due to move on to Zimbabwe where it will play three one-day internationals and two Test matches in Bulawayo (25 - 29 April) and Harare (3 - 7 May).