Former skipper Ricky Ponting weighed into theShane Watson fitness debate today saying the Australian vice-captain cannotplay in the second Test against South Africa if he's not fully fit.
Ponting said the injury-prone all-rounder would put too muchpressure on his teammates if he played against the Proteas carrying a calfmuscle strain.
A decision was expected to be made on Wednesday or themorning of Thursday's match with Test rookie Rob Quiney on standby to retainhis number three spot.
Watson, 31, took a fitness test Tuesday as he pushed for arecall as a batsman only for Thursday's Adelaide Test.
Watson completed a number of running exercises but was notat full stretch in his workout at the Adelaide Oval.
Ponting said Watson was looking good in the nets but wasrestricted from doing anything else in the field except slips catching.
"It doesn't matter what we think as teammates -- hewill have a certain lot of criteria he will have to pass," Ponting toldreporters.
"There will be a certain amount of running he will haveto do to prove that he's right to play a Test match.
"No one can go into a Test match 70 percent fit. Idon't care if you're a batsman and a slip fielder. If you can't bat at 100percent, then you are putting pressure on other blokes as well."
Ponting, turning 38 next month and facing his 167th Testmatch this week, said Watson would have to run freely between the wickets whenbatting.
"Someone has got to run with him between wickets andI'm sure that will be in the back of his mind and it will certainly be in theback of the mind of our physio and doctors that are looking after him," hesaid.
"They will make sure they tick all the boxes."