9 Sep 2011

Pontings welcome newborn daughter

6:44 am on 9 September 2011

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna are celebrating the birth of their second child in Sydney on Thursday.

Ponting, who flew home to Australia following the first Test win over Sri Lanka in Galle, chose to miss the second Test in Kandy to be with his wife for the birth.

The new-born daughter, named Matisse Elle, is the couple's second child and a sister for three-year-old Emmy.

The batsman is now expected to return to Sri Lanka for the third Test in Colombo starting on September 16th.

West Australian Shaun Marsh is making his Test debut as Ponting's replacement for the match in Kandy, which began on Thursday.