Australia's Ricky Ponting to have surgery on broken finger

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is to undergo surgery on Tuesday on the fractured finger which forced him to miss his first Test match in six years this week.

The 36-year-old fractured a bone the little finger in his left hand while fielding in the third Ashes Test in Perth and played through the injury in the defeat in Melbourne last week that ended Australia's hopes of regaining the Ashes.

He was rested for this week's fifth Test in Sydney to give him time to recuperate before the 50-over World Cup, which starts in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh next month.                                           

"There's no problem with the World Cup, it's just been decided that surgery is the way to go," said a spokesperson for Cricket Australia.