SYDNEY, Feb 22: Captain Ricky Ponting gave beleaguered Australia a boost on Thursday when he said he is expecting to be fully fit and pain-free when he arrives in the Caribbean next week for the World Cup.

Ponting, who missed last week's 3-0 one-day series loss to New Zealand with back trouble, had three cortisone injections to reduce inflammation caused by bone spurs in his spine but said much of the pain had eased.

“My back's fine,” Ponting told a business luncheon here. “(Doctors) said on the day that I had the injections it would be three to four days of not doing much before the injection settles down. It's been about a week and the last few nights I've slept a lot better and felt a lot better in the morning. Hopefully, when I get to the West Indies I'll be pain-free and ready to go,” he stated.

Ponting said he felt good enough last Friday to play a round of golf, reportedly on the advice of back specialists, who claimed swinging a golf club would help maintain movement while not aggravating the inflamed area.

There are five Australians, including batsman Michael Clarke, all-rounder Andrew Symonds, opener Matthew Hayden, paceman Brett Lee along with Ponting, struggling with injuries three weeks out from their World Cup defence, but Ponting and Clarke (hip) are the two players giving least concern. —AFP