Ponting expects Shaw to play in Boxing Day Test

The 19-year-old - who missed the first two Tests of the series after suffering an ankle injury in a tour match - is nearing a return to fitness

Ricky Ponting says he expects India starlet Prithvi Shaw to replace Murali Vijay for the third Test of the series.

The 19-year-old - who missed the Adelaide Test and ongoing match at Perth after suffering an ankle injury - is nearing a return to fitness.

Vijay - who averaged 6.50 in two Tests against England this summer - hit 11 and 18 at Adelaide before having his stumps splattered for a duck in Perth. Mitchell Starc his tormentor on all three occasions.

"I think it's got to be Murali Vijay who goes," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

^{Shaw is upping his workload on his road to recovery}

"He's a classy looking player and to be honest, it's actually been quite hard for the openers in both Adelaide and Perth – difficult places to start."

"We saw him get out twice in Adelaide to very similar shots; two balls from Starc that just pushed across, didn't swing back in and he nicked both of those and he got the other one today that comes back through the gate. 

"Give credit to Starc for the way he's bowled to him, but I think Prithvi Shaw comes straight back in."

Mitchell Starc in a nutshell. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/b3soMpgedO

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) December 15, 2018

Vijay’s opening partner, KL Rahul, fared better in England, averaging 29.90 across five Tests with a top score of 149 at The Oval.

He has failed twice (2, 44, 2) so far in Australia but looks to be the one to retain his opening place.

Shaw’s injury looked a nasty one but pictures of him back into his running suggest that the opener - who averages 118.50 in his two-Test career - could reclaim his spot at the top of the order in Melbourne.

"I saw him (Shaw) out in the outfield today hitting a few balls, starting to look like he's getting around a bit better and with 10 days to go before the next Test you'd think he'll come back in,” Ponting remarked.