Predicting a close contest in the upcoming series against India, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting [Images] said he was keenly looking forward to the tour as it is one of the great places to play cricket.

''Yes, we are all looking forward to it. It is obviously a great place to play cricket and Australia [Images] have really enjoyed touring India,'' Ponting told CNN-IBN.

Recovered from the wrist surgery, Ponting will lead a 15-member squad in which Australia picked the uncapped 36-year-old Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza as their frontline slow bowlers for the India tour scheduled to start from October 9.

The 33-year-old right-handed batsman also asserted that the four-match Test series will be a tough one for the visitors as the last series played between us at Australia was a close contest.

''We know that we are going to get a great contest. India are a very good cricket team and whatever we saw in Australia during last summer, it pretty much guarantees that the upcoming series is going to be a good series,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Ponting confirmed that he had recovered from the wrist surgery, and had already started practise at the nets.

''I am doing okay. I had some six weeks off for after the wrist injury and from last week I have started batting again.

So, it is coming along pretty well,'' he said.