( CNN ) -- Ricky Ponting looks set to lead Australia into the Boxing Day Test against England at the MCG despite a broken finger . Ponting came through a batting practice session in Melbourne on Friday , spending about half an hour in the indoor nets before venturing outside to further test the injury . The 36-year-old suffered the mishap to the little finger of his left hand as he attempted to catch a ball on the final day of his side 's triumph in the third Test in Perth . The victory leveled the five-match series at 1-1 , making the Christmas clash all the more important . Is Australia 's one-day reign set to end in 2011 ? Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke is confident Ponting will be fit to play on Sunday . `` We are all very hopeful and pretty confident that unless they cut his finger off , it is going to be really hard to leave 'Punter ' out , '' he told gathered reporters . `` I think he is going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how it pulls up after having a bat today , but he is pretty happy with how things went . '' The uncapped Usman Khawaja has been added to the Australian squad as cover for Ponting . Meanwhile , England 's injury worry James Anderson also appears to be winning his fitness battle . The 28-year-old pace bowler suffered a side strain in the defeat in Perth , but came through an hour-long net session Friday . Australia level series with crushing Perth win . `` Jimmy seems absolutely fine , '' said captain Andrew Strauss . `` He 's done quite a lot of bowling , but it ( the side strain ) has settled down nicely . '' Anderson 's fitness is key to England 's hopes , the tourists having already lost fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad for the rest of the series due to injury . Organizers at the MCG are expecting an official Test record 91,000 crowd for the first day of the match .
Australian captain Ricky Ponting comes unscathed through practice session on Friday . Ponting broke the little finger in his left hand during third Test win in England . James Anderson looks set to take his place in Perth team . Test record crowd of five expected at Perth on Boxing Day .