LONDON, March 15: Australia captain Ricky Ponting will use a new bat in the first Test against South Africa after manufacturer Kookaburra withdrew its controversial graphite bat.

The new “Ricky Ponting Kahuna” was developed for the start of the Test series on Thursday after officials said Kookaburra’s graphite-covered bat contravened the laws of the game.

“I’ve had a few net sessions with it over the last couple of days and as I expected it feels great, so I hope it will bring me as many runs as my previous bat,” Ponting said in a statement.

The MCC said the graphite-reinforced bat contravened Law 6 which states a bat’s blade must be entirely made of wood and any protective covering should not damage the ball.

Kookaburra rejects the MCC’s opinion but agreed voluntarily to withdraw the bat.

Ponting had been using the graphite-reinforced bat since December 2004 and scored 3,645 runs with it in international cricket, including 164 in the record-breaking final ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday.—Agencies