Evergreen batsman Ricky Ponting has a lot of Test cricket left in him, Australian captain Michael Clarke says.

Ponting’s revival in the series against India has Clarke maintaining the Tasmanian great can remain a vital component of Australia’s Test team for some time.

The 37-year-old Ponting has scored 263 runs at an average of 65.75 against India heading into the fourth Test starting in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Clarke doesn’t believe the Adelaide fixture will be the last time he captains Ponting in the Test side.

“No I don’t think so. I don’t think it will be,” Clarke told reporters in Adelaide on Monday.

“He’s in really good form – he has had a pretty good series.

“I have seen Punter bat for a long time now and he’s hitting the ball very sweetly.

“Ricky has a lot of Test cricket left in him.”

Clarke also retained faith in beleaguered wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who admitted this week he was mentally drained.

Haddin conceded he shouldn’t have played for his Big Bash League outfit, the Sydney Sixers, last Wednesday when he made a second-ball duck and dropped a catch.

But Clarke said the 34-year-old gloveman was well prepared for the Adelaide Test.

“Mentally, he’s ready to go,” Clarke said of Haddin.

“He has been keeping pretty well throughout this series.

“His experience will play a big part (in Adelaide). It’s going to be tough conditions out there.”