BBC SPORT | Cricket | Ponting undergoes surgery

Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting hopes to be back in action in a month following a surgery on his left foot.

The Tasmanian has a stress fracture of the metatarsal bone and will have a permanent pin in the bone.

He arrived at Sydney airport on crutches after the surgery in Melbourne.

"Apparently it all went pretty well and I should be on these things for a week and then hopefully back in full training in a month," Ponting said.

He first suffered discomfort during the home VB Series at the start of the year and had further problems during recent one-day matches against Pakistan.

Ponting, who was married on Saturday, said there was more disruption to his honeymoon than his cricket.

Australia's Ricky Ponting
Ponting says he feels some pain only during fielding

"It had to be done, I'd had pain for about 12 months and had some X-rays in early January that identified a stress fracture," he said.

Ponting said the injury didn't hamper him when batting but caused him some pain when fielding.

Australia was due to tour Pakistan in two months but the tour now is likely to be staged in another country because of security concerns.

It could also be switched to Australia.

"There have been a lot of things spoken and a lot of possibilities ... Morocco, Sharjah," Ponting said.

Pakistan last week wrapped up a 2-1 limited overs series win against Australia.

"It would be nice to play in Australia but the Pakistanis were not all that keen on that because they thought it was too much of an advantage to us playing in Australia," he added.

Australia will also take part in the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.

"We have a tough schedule ahead and by getting the injury seen too now, I am confident I will be fully fit as we approach the Pakistan series, the summer's Ashes series and the World Cup," Ponting added.


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