Cricket: Dropped Ponting to announce intentions

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting will hold a press conference in Sydney today to announce whether he intends to retire from international cricket.

The 37-year-old was dumped from Australia's one-day squad on Monday, having returned just 18 runs at an average of 3.6 in the current tri series.

National selector John Inverarity said it was unlikely Ponting would be able to force his way back into the one-day set-up given the need to prepare the squad ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

But he hoped the Tasmanian would continue his Test career after the batsman's stunning return to form in this summer's 4-0 Test whitewash of India.

"He made a double century in his last Test match and we are hoping that he remains available for Test match cricket, but there can be no guarantees in elite sport and in the Australian cricket team," Inverarity said on Monday.

"If he drops out of the ODI team then there's a possible lack of momentum there.

"There are three Test matches in the West Indies (in April), then as I understand it there are no more Test matches until October or November."

Ponting's 13,704 runs at an average of 42.03 in 375 ODIs ranks second only to Sachin Tendulkar, while his 13,200 runs over 162 Tests makes him the third highest run scorer in Test history.

Inverarity described Ponting as a gem of a human being, and said the Tasmanian took the news of his dumping "on the chin".

But he added the decision to axe Australia's finest player since Don Bradman was a unanimous one.

"You don't put your heart to one side, but the head has got to dominate," Inverarity said of Ponting, who captained Australia to World Cup crowns in 2003 and 2007.

"In elite sport, there's no place for sentiment."

In other big team news, Inverarity confirmed Matthew Wade had officially taken over from Brad Haddin as Australia's preferred ODI wicket-keeper.

Meanwhile, skipper Michael Clarke is on track to make his return from a hamstring injury against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval on Friday after being named in Australia's 13-man squad.

But fit-again allrounder Shane Watson, who also earned inclusion, is more likely to return against India in Sydney on Sunday.

In the other change to the squad, paceman Ryan Harris replaced Mitchell Starc.

Australia's squad to play Sri Lanka in Hobart on Friday and India on Sunday in Sydney: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade, David Warner.