Oz coach Arthur backs Ponting to play in 2013 Ashes series

Melbourne, May 1(ANI): Australian coach Mickey Arthur has endorsed former skipper Ricky Ponting's bid to play in the 2013 Ashes series in England.

"I know there was a lot of media pressure around Ricky, but Ricky is not going anywhere. We're hoping that Ricky is scoring enough runs to go to the Ashes. Ricky is in no way considering retirement. I wouldn't have thought from my conversations with him," The Herald Sun quoted Arthur, as saying.

His statement came after Ponting's performance had come under the scanner following a lukewarm West Indies Test tour that yielded just 146 runs at an average of 24.33.

Arthur also backed veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who pulled out of the West Indies tour for family reason, to regain his place in the squad despite Wade's impressive debut series.

He said he also expected young pace duo James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins to be fit and available for selection for the one-day series against England.

"It was pretty disappointing not having him over the summer considering how he started so I'm really looking forward to having him back. It's pretty mouth-watering when you've got some of those bowlers coming back into our set-up," he said. (ANI)