Australia's Ponting has injections to help back problem

SYDNEY, Feb 13 (Reuters) Ricky Ponting received three cortisone injections to ease back pain during the Ashes rout of England, the Australian captain revealed today.

Ponting is skipping a three-match one-day series against New Zealand to rest the problem, which emerged during the third test against England in Perth in December.

Ponting told reporters he received the injections to his spine yesterday to ease the pain from bone spurs that have built up during his career.

''It's been something that has been bothering me a lot through the summer,'' Ponting said. ''It started the second day of the Perth test match, which is a long time ago now.

''It hasn't gone away and it's got worse game by game.

''It's just the right time now I think to get it fixed as soon as possible, so I'm not having a lot of sleepless nights through the World Cup as I've had through the summer.'' Ponting said X-rays had revealed some of the bone spurs in his spine. He has been told the problem is unlikely to require surgery.

''Listening to the specialist it will take four to five days to settle down completely, so I'll have a few more days on anti-inflammatory yet before I'll be feeling any better.

''The doctor says having the injections gives me the best chance of getting better as quickly as possible.'' Ponting insisted he would be fit for the World Cup, which Australia are trying to win for an unprecedented third straight time, starting next month in the West Indies.

Australia open their Group A campaign against Scotland in St Kitts on March 14.

REUTERS DH KP1558