Hauritz a 'lock-in' for India and Ashes - Ponting

Ricky Ponting believes Nathan Hauritz is a "lock-in" for the Ashes, despite the emergence of Steven Smith as a promising spinning allrounder on the recent tour of England. Hauritz missed the England trip with a foot injury but he has resumed running and Ponting is looking forward to having the offspinner available for October's two-Test tour of India.

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

"I will be doing a lot of work with him over the next few weeks. I'll be facing a lot of him considering we've got [Graeme] Swann and Harbhajan [Singh] to confront over the next few months. Is he a lock-in? I think so. What he's done over the last 12 or 18 months as our number one spinner has been of the highest quality. With him back to full fitness I think he'll get himself back into the side again."

In the 12 months from the start of the last Ashes, only Mitchell Johnson took more Test wickets for Australia than Hauritz's 43 at 31.67. Hauritz was especially impressive at home against Pakistan, when he took his first two Test five-wicket hauls, and he will be an important part of the attack in India.

His spin competition in the immediate future will come from Smith, who filled the role against Pakistan and collected three wickets at 27.33. Smith also impressed with his batting, striking an entertaining 77 in the second Test at Headingley, but he could be a casualty for the first Test against India due to Hauritz's return.

Marcus North's disappointing winter tour has left him a little more vulnerable, although Ponting is a strong supporter of North at No. 6, and does not believe Smith could play as a specialist batsman. However, having Shane Watson's medium pace in the armoury could allow the Australians to consider playing two spinners.

"Steven came along really well in the two Tests that he played in the UK," Ponting said. "We saw towards the end of the Headingley Test his ability with the bat and also his willingness to be aggressive with the ball. That's not an easy thing to do for a young legspinner to maintain that aggression.

"He's a work in progress but the more games that he can play is obviously going to be better for him and he'll learn all the time. With Shane Watson in our side it gives us the flexibility to be able to look at playing two spinners."