Ponting to miss first one dayer
Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting will miss Wednesday's opening one-day international against Sri Lanka at the MCG to attend his grandmother's funeral.
Ponting will fly to his home town of Launceston on Wednesday morning for the funeral after his grandmother died at the weekend.
Michael Clarke will lead the Australian team in his absence.
"I will be flying out tomorrow morning to attend the funeral and then flying straight back to the ground tomorrow afternoon," Ponting said.
"I wanted to be here yesterday and today to maximise my time around the team and get my preparation right for the coming games."
Ponting added Australia are yet to finalise their team for the opening match of the three-game series against Sri Lanka because of the weather.
It was raining in Melbourne on Tuesday and showers were also forecast for the day-night game.
But Ponting confirmed fellow Tasmanian Xavier Doherty would make his international one-day debut in the match.
Australia badly need to find form ahead of the opening Ashes Test on November 25, having lost their last five international games.
Sri Lanka belted them by seven wickets on Sunday night in a Twenty20 match in Perth.
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