Ponting returns home with wrist injury

Ricky Ponting will make an early departure from the Caribbean as he continues to battle an injury to his right wrist. Ponting will fly out for Australia immediately after it became clear he was unlikely to play in the final ODI of the series against West Indies in St Kitts on Sunday.

"Ricky has a tendon injury in his right wrist and he will be flying home to see a specialist in Melbourne," Justin Steer, the team physio, said. "Given his unavailability for the last match of the series we see this as a good opportunity to have him see the specialist at his earliest convenience."

He suffered the injury while batting in the third ODI in Grenada on Sunday and was ruled out of Friday's fourth game in St Kitts. Ponting's absence means Michael Clarke will captain the side as they aim for a 5-0 series whitewash, with Michael Hussey to act as Clarke's vice-captain.

Ponting will be the third squad member to head home from the West Indies mid-series. Matthew Hayden was ruled out before the first Test with an achilles tendon injury and Brad Haddin departed after one ODI as he battled a broken finger.