Ponting shocked at decision

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was shocked and saddened by Shane Warne's 12-month suspension but predicted it would not be the the end of the great leg spinner's career.

Ponting and the rest of Australia's World Cup squad learned of Warne's punishment for a positive drugs test when they woke this morning in the sleepy town of Potchefstroom, many of them finding notes slipped under their hotel doors by team management.

Asked about the mood among the players, many of whom looked gobsmacked at breakfast, Ponting replied: "Pretty much the same as mine - just a bit shocked and a bit disappointed.

"Everyone kind of expected something like this to happen but when it actually does come out and you find that one of your mates and team-mates and one of the greatest players the game has seen has been suspended, it's very disappointing for everybody.

"Everyone feels very sorry for Warney, it's obviously been a very tough time for him the last week and a half.

"We've always had this sort of belief that he might be here with us some time during the World Cup. Most of the guys will speak to him at some stage today ... either via text message or over the phone and we'll wish him all the best."

Ponting said he believed Warne's ban, rubbing him out of all levels of cricket - including club matches, coaching, his lucrative deal with English county side Hampshire, even jeopardising his Australian Cricket Board contract - would not finish him off as a player.

"Let's hope not - I wouldn't have thought so," said Ponting.

"I think there are still a lot of things and a lot of goals that Shane wants to achieve in the future. Let's just hope he can get over this like he's gotten over the very bad injuries he's had over the last few years as well.

"Everyone wants him to keep playing.

"We were certainly looking forward to playing with Shane right through this World Cup as it was going to be his last set of one-day matches. We're looking forward to playing some more Test cricket with him in the future."

A distraught Warne told his team-mates about his failed drugs test the night before he flew back to Australia to face the anti-drugs tribunal.

"He'd definitely be shattered now - just seeing his reaction when he first addressed the team over here, he was shattered knowing that he was going to miss the World Cup, which was going to be his last World Cup," said Ponting.

"He was very upset by it so there's no doubt he'd be even worse today knowing he's got a 12-month ban hanging over his head."

Ponting said the ACB's verdict was a warning to all players.

"It's hard to comment not knowing exactly what's taken place back in Australia and without knowing any of the evidence, but the one thing we did know was that the minimum was a two-year ban," said Ponting.

"He's got 12 months, he's going to appeal it and hopefully that can be lessened as well.

"He's obviously been very naive with it all. I think it's a big wake-up call for not only cricketers but sportsmen around the world, that you just have to be very, very careful with the things you put in your mouth.

"Shane's obviously learned a very hard lesson from it."

Ponting praised the way his players had coped with Warne's absence, both on and off the field.

"The way we played straight after this issue came up was fantastic in our first game against Pakistan," he said.

"The guys really rallied together and put on a good show. We're a little way into the World Cup and I couldn't be happier with the way the team is progressing."

Australia plays Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Monday.