Australia captain Ricky Ponting declared himself fit for the all-important fourth Ashes Test after a strong training session yesterday, saying it could be the match of his career.

Ponting broke the little finger of his left hand while attempting a slips catch during Australia’s series-levelling win in Perth last weekend, putting him in doubt for the must-win Melbourne Test.

But the 36-year-old skipper said his injury was on the mend and he was all but certain of taking the pitch today, expressing surprise at how well he had been able to train.

“I’ve batted a lot in the last two days and I took part in all the fielding stuff out there and just made sure I caught a few balls, just to get used to the feeling of it,” Ponting said after three hours’ training at the MCG, the first compulsory Christmas Day session in his career.

“Something pretty strange is going to have to happen today for me not to play.”

Australia have yet to name their squad for the much-hyped Melbourne Test, which they must win to remain in the series and which is expected to attract a record crowd of 91,000.

“We haven’t finalised the 11 yet. We’ll wait until the morning to see, one, what the weather’s like and, two, if the wicket changes at all,” said Ponting.

“It looks like it has got a bit of moisture in it again today from yesterday (Friday). It’s a bit different than it was yesterday afternoon.”

The veteran captain is under pressure to perform in the fourth Test, which he admitted could be the biggest match of his career.

Ponting has a record of 1,186 runs at 62.42 in 13 matches at the MCG and has made four hundreds at the southern ground, though he has gone nine matches this year without a ton.

England are expected to name an unchanged side after captain Andrew Strauss said fast bowler James Anderson had overcome a side strain.

The England skipper said he was “very confident” his side could bounce back from their 267-run drubbing in Perth earlier this month.

“I can’t think of anything better than to come over to Australia and win the Boxing Day Test. That would be a very good feather in all our caps,” said Strauss.