Ponting surgery successful, but return to cricket longer than expected

Australian batsman Ricky Ponting had surgery on his injured right ankle in Sydney yesterday and according to ankle surgeon, Martin Sullivan, the injury will put Ponting out of the game for up to six months.

Ponting had two operations during two hours of surgery - a large piece of bone was removed from the back of his ankle and cartilage on both sides of the ankle was operated on.

Sullivan said the operation was successful but it revealed the ankle had incurred more damage than anticipated.

"The cartilage trauma on both sides and the broken bone fragment at the back of the ankle required up to two hours of operating," Sullivan said.

Sullivan added that the outlook for Ponting was positive.

"I expect Ricky to make a full recovery from the operation. He will undergo physiotherapy over the next four to six months to get the ankle back to full strength."

Ponting said that being out of the Australian team will fuel his desire to make a full recovery.

"While I'm disappointed with the seriousness of the injury, I am determined to use the recovery stage to ensure I can get back to doing what I love - playing cricket for Australia. It's not nice being on the outskirts and I don't intend being here for long," he said.