Hauritz will be our 1 spinner against India: Ponting

Ponting said he has taken stock of Hauritzs fitness status and he is a certainty for the tour of India and the Ashes to be played after that.

Ive spoken a bit to Nathan over the last couple of weeks. He has started running again which is a good sign,without pain in his foot. He started bowling again last week, Ponting told reporters here.

Ill be doing a lot of work with him over the next few weeks. Ill be facing a lot of him in the nets,considering weve got Englands Graeme Swann and Harbhajan Indias Harbhajan Singh to confront over the next few months.

Is he a lock-in? I think so. What hes done over the last 12 or 18 months as our number one spinner has been of the highest quality, he added.

Ponting said the injury setback to Hauritz will not impact his return to the squad despite facing competition from young spinner Steven Smith.

With him back to full fitness I think hell get himself back into the side again, he said.

The 21-year-old Smith took 3/82 and scored a 100-ball 77 in his Test debut against Pakistan in Headingly.

Ponting said the youngster has been a revelation but remains a work in progress.

Steven came along really well in the two Tests that he played in the UK. We saw towards the end of the Headingley Test his ability with the bat and also his willingness to be aggressive with the ball, Ponting said.

Thats not an easy thing to do for a young leg-spinner to maintain that aggression. Hes a work in progress but the more games that he can play is obviously going to be better for him and hell learn all the time.

With all-rounder Shane Watson in our side it gives us the flexibility to be able to look at playing two spinners, he added.