Melbourne, Dec. 3 : Australian cricket team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has dismissed speculation that captain Ricky Ponting''s career could be cut short by a wrist injury.

Ponting was visiting his surgeon Greg Hoy in Melbourne on Thursday for assessment of his right wrist, after he had a screw inserted in July to repair tissue and tendon damage.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Kountouris as saying that the appointment had been planned six weeks ago. He said the pain Ponting was experiencing was standard after any type of surgery and was not severe enough to have caused him to miss a training session let alone consider being rested from any matches.

"He''s got a little bit of pain in his wrist, no more than what other players carry in other parts of their bodies," Kountouris said.

"He''s really not having anything of significance that he has to miss any games. It would be ridiculous for him to miss any games or any training at this point in time," he added.

Kountouris also said Ponting had been treated with ice, strapping and pain-killing medication to allow him to continue playing during his recovery period, but said that was not unusual.

He said there was no reason to suggest Ponting would have to cut back on his playing commitments in future years or consider shortening his career.

Meanwhile Kountouris said off-spinner Jason Krejza was recovering well from an ankle injury that kept him out of the Adelaide Test against New Zealand. He is expected to be back to full fitness ahead of the upcoming first Test against South Africa in Perth, he added. (ANI)