Australia's limited-overs tour match against Scotland was canceled on Thursday because of rain, depriving Ricky Ponting's [Images] team of valuable practice before the fourth Ashes Test against England [Images].

Scotland doesn't rank among cricket's elite Test-playing nations, but has qualified for the 2007 World Cup and will be in Australia's group.

Ponting, who scored a match-saving 156 on Monday to force a draw in the third Test, said he'd been looking forward to playing Scotland as a break from the intense atmosphere of the Ashes.

"The last two weeks have been physically and mentally tough, so to have a few days away would have been great for us," he said.

Australia's only remaining warm up before the Trent Bridge Test starts August 25 is a two-day match in Northampton this weekend.

The five-match Ashes series is tied 1-1 after three Tests.

England rallied from a 239-run defeat at Lord's with a series-leveling two-run win at Edgbaston and then got within a wicket at Old Trafford of taking at 2-1 lead.