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Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007
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Ponting urges caution

NO PAIN, LOTS OF GAIN: Matthew Hayden has been asked not to rush his comeback — PHOTO: AFP

Melbourne: Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked team mates Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden not to force the pace of their injury recovery and be careful while getting involved in the team's practice sessions.

Symonds made a comeback from bicep surgery ahead of schedule while Hayden started walking laps at training after breaking his right big toe against New Zealand last month and being troubled by a sore left foot.

Terrific news

"It's great to see Symo just with a bat in his hand. That's terrific news, but still we have to be really careful with them," Ponting said.

"I have had a chat with both of those two this morning just to make sure they are not getting too involved too soon," he said to the Herald Sun.

Ponting said Australia, already without some of its crucial players in the World Cup, could not afford to lose more players.

"When you get back around the group and training starts, you want to be able to help them out and get stuck in. But you can't afford to do it.

Bump or knock

"If Symo got some sort of bump or knock on his shoulder, it might put him back a week, and we really can't afford that.

"I have told both of those guys to get away for a while and do what they have to do, but be really careful as well," he said.

Besides missing the warm-up match against Zimbabwe, Hayden will wear a protective cap on his boot when he returns to the nets. He is also expected to sit out of the second practice match against England on Friday, but hopes to be fit for the opening group game against Scotland. — PTI

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