Leg-spinner MacGill, 37, has lived in the shadow of Warne since his Test debut in 1998 and only after Warne’s retirement in January 2007 did MacGill appear as the country’s leading spinner available for selection. A knee injury, though, hampered his last Australian summer but he is now fit and raring to go for the three-Test series in the West Indies that starts in Jamaica on Thursday. 

MacGill, who has taken 203 wickets in 42 Tests at an average of 28.14, would have been a regular for any team in the world for the past decade and his record proves it, but Warne’s presence has curtailed his appearances and usually he had to wait for an injury to Warne before playing a part.

And just when it seemed as though he had a Warne-free period ahead of him for the last years of his career, Warne said this week he would be interested in making a comeback for the 2009 Ashes. Ponting, though, has supported MacGill.

“If his body stays right there is no doubt that he is the best wicket-taking spinner in Australia,” Ponting said in the Australian.

“So if he keeps himself fit and has the desire and passion to keep playing cricket then I'm pretty sure he would be good enough to get the Ashes job done."

“Full credit to him, he looks a lot fitter and has obviously lost a lot of weight,” Ponting added. “Last year he really battled but he is moving around a lot better now.”