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Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds has a golden opportunity to cement a permanent place in the Test side with a strong performance in the third Ashes Test, according to his captain Ricky Ponting.

Symonds was called into the side for the match that starts on Thursday after the surprise retirement of Damien Martyn and the unavailability of first-choice all-rounder Shane Watson.

“If Symo’ does happen to do well then it will make it pretty tough for the selectors,” Ponting said.

“I’m pretty confident in him actually. I’ve watched him pretty closely over the last few days and he’s extremely excited to be back amongst this group,” he added.

Symonds has been an automatic selection in Australia’s one-day team since his destructive displays with the bat at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

He is also a handy bowler, who offers both medium pace or off-spin, but has failed to carry his limited-overs form into the Test arena, averaging just 19 with the bat and 45 with the ball in 10 appearances.

But Ponting, a long-time admirer of Symonds, said he was confident the dreadlocked Queenslander would realise his true potential in the Test arena.

Source:The News