CAPE TOWN, March 2: Captain Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds have been ruled out of the Australian team for the second one-day international against South Africa on Friday, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

Ponting has an abdominal strain while allrounder Symonds has a thigh strain.

“Although Ricky was unhampered by his injury in batting and fielding sessions today (Thursday), we consider it more prudent to rest him tomorrow considering the length of time since the injury,” a CA media release on Thursday quoted team physiotherapist Errol Alcott as saying.

“We will continue further treatment and cricket activity, and will review his availability for Sunday’s game in due course.”

The teams meet in the third one-day international in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

“Andrew Symonds had a batting session in the nets today and Alcott is happy with his progress,” the CA release said.

“He will continue to receive treatment and his progress will be monitored.”

Ponting and Symonds missed the first game in the five-match series which South Africa won by six wickets in Centurion on Sunday.

Ponting said bad weather and poor facilities had hampered his team’s preparations early in the tour.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s early exit from the triangular one-day tournament in Australia has helped the Proteas refocus for the home series against the world champions, according to Shaun Pollock.

“I felt, in a way, that if we weren’t going to win the VB Series it couldn’t have happened better from the perspective of getting knocked out and coming home, and getting those extra two weeks at home,” all-rounder Pollock said.

“When we got together (after that) there was a lot of energy, we were laughing and joking and there was excitement in the air.”

The South Africans left Sri Lanka and Australia to contest the final, and limped home to prepare for the Australians’ return tour.

“We were in India before Australia and we haven’t played in front of our home crowds for a while.—Agencies