Ricky Ponting’s 100th Test win arrived in the nick of time to allow him to fly home for the birth of his second child, which will rule him out of the second Test starting in Kandy on Thursday. The reserve batsman Shaun Marsh is set to make his debut, while David Warner, previously seen as a Twenty20 specialist, will join the group as a standby player.
Ponting’s wife Rianna is heavily pregnant and medical advice that the birth was imminent had Ponting booked to board a plane home hours after the tourists completed a 125-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Ponting will remain at home for about a week and is hoping to be back in time for the third Test. “Rianna had another scan on Tuesday and the doctor believes it’s going to be [due] in the next few days, so I’ve been keen to get this Test match over pretty quickly and get a flight out tonight,” Ponting said.
“I’ll then get back Sunday night, so I’m pretty sure the little one will come a couple of days after I’ve got back hopefully. “Hopefully the baby comes in the next couple of days and hopefully I’ll be around for a few days and hopefully be able to get them out of hospital and be back in time to get prepared to play the third Test. As the tour’s worn on, one thing I didn’t want to do if at all possible was miss the birth, and Rianna’s started to struggle a little more the last few days so she just needs me home at the moment.”
