Ponting looking forward to playing in India

Even as Cricket Australia ordered a security review in wake of the recent blasts that rocked India’s capital New Delhi, Oz skipper Ricky Ponting said that he is looking forward to the Test series in India.

Ponting will lead a 15 member Aussie squad to India to play a four match Test series, the first of which is scheduled to be played in Bangalore from October 9. The other games will be played at Mohali (17-21 Oct), Delhi (29 Oct - 2 Nov) and Nagpur (6 – 10 Nov).

Talking to a news channel, Ponting said that he was eagerly looking ahead to touring India and that the series was expected to be a closely fought one.

"Yes, we are all looking forward to it. It is obviously a great place to play cricket and Australia have really enjoyed touring India."

"We know that we are going to get a great contest. India are a very good cricket team and whatever we saw in Australia during last summer, it pretty much guarantees that the upcoming series is going to be a good series."

When asked about the state of his wrist injury, Ponting said that he was fully fit and rearing to go.

"I am doing okay. I had some six weeks off for after the wrist injury and from last week I have started batting again. So, it is coming along pretty well."