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SYDNEY, Wednesday (Reuters) Australia one-day captain Ricky Ponting believes his side will struggle to replace injured bowlers Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie in the triangular series against England and Sri Lanka.

Australia will host Sri Lanka in Sydney on Thursday as the series resumes after a break for the fourth and fifth Ashes tests in late December and early January.

Australia would be without Warne (dislocated shoulder), McGrath (side strain) and Gillespie (elbow injury) on Thursday but this would give Andy Bichel and Brett Lee important opportunities ahead of next month's World Cup in southern Africa, Ponting said.

"It's (the bowling stocks) going to be a bit thinner than what we're used to. Having our three best bowlers out is going to be difficult for any side to cover," Ponting told reporters.

"We still have Brett Lee bowling very well at the moment. Andy Bichel bowled well in the test match and batted well and Shane Watson will be our first change bowler tomorrow."

Australia, who won the Ashes test series against England 4-1, lead the one-day series with 17 points from three matches while England are second with 12 points from four games and Sri Lanka are winless with one point from three games.

Ponting said it was great to see World Cup squad member Andrew Symonds, who has been named in Australia's 12 for Thursday's game, hit 81 from 59 balls in an exhibition match for Australia A against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. "He hits the ball as hard and as far as anybody. He's dynamic in the field and he can do a job when he's needed with medium pace or spin," Ponting said.

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