Ponting's place

Skysports.com readers are torn over whether Ricky Ponting should be dropped by Australia.

Skysports.com readers may be torn over whether Ricky Ponting should be dropped by Australia, but Sky Bet make the former captain a banker to face India in their next series. Speculation over Ponting's position has been rife after he failed to deliver the goods as New Zealand won the final Test in Tasmania to level the series. The 36-year-old has now gone without a century for his country in 39 Tests, with that most recent of treble-figure scores coming with the assistance of some woeful fielding from Pakistan at Hobart in 2010. Voters in a poll on Skysports.com are split as to whether the Australian selectors should call time on their former skipper's Test career, with 51 per cent in favour of him being retained for the next series. But online bookmaker Sky Bet are struggling to envisage an Australia side without Ponting, offering 10/1 on him not featuring in the Boxing Day Test. The hosts are the 6/5 favourites to win the four-match series with India 13/8 to record a first ever Test series victory Down Under, while a draw is 3/1. Sky Bet's Phil Charlton said: "Australia are favourites despite their recent failures, and the speculation over Ponting's future is hardly likely to help. "The tourists also have Zaheer Khan back which is a big blow for the Aussies given their failure to cope with swing against New Zealand."