Ponting and Hussey have no appetite for an Ashes return

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have ruled out the possibility of ending their retirements to bolster Australia’s inexperienced batting line-up in the Ashes.

Australia have struggled for runs on their troubled tour of India, which they trail 3-0 heading into the fourth and final Test in Delhi this week.

Coach Mickey Arthur admitted this week his side were missing the experience of former captain Ponting, the second-leading runscorer in Test history, and Hussey after they retired from international cricket this winter.

Arthur said the door was still open for Hussey to make a return while Ponting collected the Sheffield Shield Player-of-the-Year award last night after finishing the domestic season as the leading runscorer with 875 runs at an average of 87.50.

Ponting will be in England when the Ashes begin in Nottingham on July 10 after agreeing a short-term deal with Surrey but denied he might make a comeback.

“I haven’t had the phone call yet,” said Ponting, who will line up for Tasmania in the Shield final in Hobart this week.