Cricket: Langer believes Ponting will play through pain barrier in Ashes Test

Ponting, who sustained the injury to the little finger on his left hand while fielding on the third day of the Perth test, faces a race to be fit for the Melbourne encounter, which starts on Sunday.

"I would be amazed if Ricky doesn't play in this test, he is that tough physically and mentally," Langer said. "At one-all (in the series), a Boxing Day test, a chance to win the Ashes, he will definitely be there."

Ponting, who turned 36 last Sunday, has had a disappointing series with the bat with just 83 runs at an average of 16.60, 51 of those coming as Australia batted out the first test for a draw in Brisbane.

Former opener Langer, who played more than 100 tests before his retirement at the end of the 2006-07 Ashes series, said he thought the fracture might even help his former skipper.

"His injury might work in his favour," he added. "He has been trying so hard. Rather than working too much and doing batting beforehand, this might be the breather he wanted."