Ricky Ponting could move down order in the third test

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is likely to come down in the batting order in the third Test against Sri Lanka to allow Shaun Marsh to continue batting at NO.3 following his outstanding debut century in the second Test at Kandy.

According to the Courier Mail, Marsh has kept his place in the team for the third Test, starting in Colombo today but Usman Khawaja has been dropped to make way for Ponting, who returns following the birth of his second child.

Paceman Ryan Harris was overlooked because of a slight hamstring strain and has been replaced by Peter Siddle.

Marsh's flawless, seven-hour 141 batting at No.3 means Australia should leave the 28-year-old at first drop as an investment for the future as well as the present.

Ponting, 36, is widely regarded as Australia's greatest batsman after Bradman but he has not been a success at No.3 for more than two years.

He has made just one century in 21 Tests since scoring 150 at Cardiff during the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series.

That was a double hundred against Pakistan in Hobart 20 months ago, when he was dropped - hooking to fine leg - before he had scored .

Hindered by significant injuries during the past two seasons, Ponting has averaged 27.6 in 11 Tests since that Hobart innings.

At the end of last summer's dismal Ashes series, Ponting openly discussed moving down the order, as former greats such as Viv Richards and Allan Border did towards the end of their careers.

Australian team: Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (c), Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon.