Spinner Holland will face baptism of fire in India: Ponting

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has warned upcoming left-arm spinner Jon Holland that he can expect a baptism of fire when comes up against India during the forthcoming seven-match one-day series.

Ponting, who has a vague memory of Holland, saying he saw just 20 minutes of him bowling in the nets leading up to the Boxing Day Test last year, said: “Everyone believes he's got a good future. It's great to have a young cricketer around the group, especially a young spinner making a tour of India.''

''You can't help but learn when you get over there (India) and bowl in those conditions and bowl to better players like Jon will be doing,'' Ponting said.

''He'll be bowling to all the Australian batsmen over the next few weeks and he might get an opportunity to bowl to some very good players of spin in the Indian batsmen, so some great opportunities lie ahead for Jon. I'm looking forward to spending some time with him over the next few weeks,'' he added.

Ponting also sympathized with the frustration that was being felt by fast bowler Brett Lee.

''He's been bowling fast for the last few months. He obviously was frustrated with the way the Ashes series turned out for him, breaking down before the first game and not getting his bowling fitness where it needed to be to take part in that series. But I thought his form in the one-day series in England was particularly good and carried on through the Champions Trophy. So, things are most definitely heading in the right direction for him,'' Ponting said.