MELBOURNE, January 31: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Thursday said that he is a doubtful starter for the one-off Twenty20 game against India to be played here on Friday as he still recuperating from a back injury.

Ponting suffered a lower back injury during the fourth Test against India at Adelaide and was forced to use a runner during the hosts’ second innings.

”I’ve basically been laid on my back the last couple of days trying to give myself the best chance to recover,” Ponting told reporters after arriving here on Thursday. “We have just arrived in Melbourne and once the physio lands here he will be assessing my situation and take a decision on my availability tomorrow (Friday).”

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar is all set to make his Twenty20 debut on Friday. Tendulkar, who had opted out of the last year’s Twenty20 World Cup to give chance to youngsters, has been in great from since setting foot on Australian soil and will be keen to carry the momentum into the shortest form of the game and the subsequent tri-series.—Agencies