Ponting returns to Test after 'scary' chest pains

Ricky Ponting has returned to work for the Seven network after a "scary moment" when the Australian icon suffered chest pains during a commentary stint.

Ponting raised concerns when he left Seven's broadcast of the first NRMA Insurance Test between Australia and India on Friday after feeling unwell.

"I probably scared a lot of people yesterday and had a scary moment for myself," Ponting said today back at the ground with Seven.

"I was sitting in the comms box halfway through the stint and got a couple of really short and sharp pains to my chest. I tried to stretch it out and get rid of it, and probably didn't want to give too much away when I was on air.

"I had a couple of those incidents, got through the stint and went to walk to the back of the commentary box and got lightheaded and dizzy and grabbed the bench.

"I mentioned to JL (Justin Langer) on the way out, who was commentating with me, that I had had these pains in my chest and Chris Jones (Seven's executive producer) heard me and just reacted straight away and got me out of there.

"Ten or 15 minutes later, I was in the hospital getting the best treatment that I possibly could.

"I feel great this morning, I am all shiny and new this morning."

"I think the bottom line is, the fact that I was willing to share it with JL and the fact that your mate looks after you, I think as people of our age, we are a little reluctant to share much or talk about our health and I think that is a good learning curve for me yesterday, especially with what has happened in the last 12-18 months to really close people around us.

"My little mate looked after me and got me down there and I'm back, shiny and new this morning."

Australian cricket was rocked by the deaths of Shane Warne, Rod Marsh and Andrew Symonds in the past year.

Warne, aged 52, and Marsh, at 74, died within 24 hours of each other in March, both after heart attacks. Symonds passed away in May after a car accident.

Former Australia cricketer Ryan Campbell suffered a cardiac arrest in April, with the 50-year-old given just a seven per cent chance of survival before recovering after being placed in an induced coma.

Current Test skipper Pat Cummins had sent positive thoughts to Ponting after reports of a heart scare emerged on Friday afternoon.

"I wish Ricky the best," Cummins said after play on day three.

"We were just chatting to him this morning out on the field. By all reports it sounds like he's going OK.

"Anything like that is super scary, so we wish him the best."

Langer also highlighted the importance of raising the alarm.

"If Ricky Ponting comes to me and says something is not quite right, then you know something is not quite right," Langer said on Seven.

"It's a great lesson for everyone that after our 12 months it has become very public with Rod Marsh, Shane Warne of course and Ryan Campbell. 

"When someone says they have something going on, it's good to talk up and it's good to see the little fella not being the tough guy, not being the ice man, and reaching out."

Men's NRMA Insurance Test Series v West Indies

Nov 30 – Dec 4: First Test, Perth Stadium, 1:20pm AEDT

Dec 8-12: Second Test, Adelaide Oval, 3pm AEDT (day-night)

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomas

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