14 Mar 2012

Ponting included in Australia side for the Carribean

6:11 pm on 14 March 2012

The former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was dropped from the one-day cricket side last month, has been included in the test squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.

Michael Clarke's expected to have recovered from a hamstring strain, which is likely to rule him out of the limited overs matches, but is expected to lead the side in the tests.

Left-arm spinner Michael Beer, who played his one and only test against England during last year's Ashes tests, was a surprise inclusion along with Nathan Lyon.

Top order batsman Shaun Marsh, who struggled during India's tour over the turn of the year, has been dropped while Brad Haddin is included as one of two wicketkeepers along with Matt Wade.

Wade and batsman Peter Forrest are the only players in the 16-man squad uncapped at test level.