Ricky Ponting will unveil a new range of bats in the first Test with South Africa at Newlands tomorrow.
The Australia skipper smashed 1544 Test runs at 67.13 in 2005, the second-highest tally in history, but has been forced to shed his controversial graphite-backed weapon after a ruling by the International Cricket Conference.
The International Cricket Conference, the game's governing body, made its ruling to outlaw the Kahuna bat after the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - keeper of the laws - decided last month that the bat breached the laws.
Test cricket's No.1-ranked batsman gave his favourite Kookaburra bat one last hit-out in Sunday's historic one-day international in Johannesburg, scoring a brilliant 164.
"It's frustrating having to change my graphite-covered Kahuna, particularly after scoring 164 on Sunday, but I'm extremely pleased with the new bat that Kookaburra has developed at such short notice," said Ponting.
"I'm looking forward to using it for the first time against the South African bowling attack in the forthcoming Test series.
"I've had a few net sessions with it over the last couple of days and, as I expected, it feels great, so I hope it will bring me as many runs as my previous bat."
Ponting's new blade is an updated version of the "The Ricky Ponting Kahuna", the Kookaburra bat-making company said in a statement overnight.
Ponting was the first international cricketer to use a Kookaburra graphite-covered bat in December 2004.
"Since then, he has scored 3645 runs in all forms of international cricket, including Sunday's memorable 164, and has recorded a Test match average of 75.04," Kookaburra said.
"... (Ponting) has been forced into using a new bat following the ICC's recent announcement that in their opinion Kookaburra's innovative range of graphite-covered bats do not comply with Law 6."
The MCC believes the graphite layer gives Ponting a power advantage. Kookaburra said the graphite cover is a superficial layer and not an integral part of the blade.
The MCC has ruled that it breaches Law 6, which says the blade of the bat must be made solely of wood and may be covered with material up to 1.56mm thick "for protection, strengthening or repair".
Following last month's ICC ruling, Kookaburra agreed it would withdraw the bats until the issue is resolved.
"The MCC's statement and total lack of transparency in their process of reaching this opinion is very disappointing," said Kookaburra managing director (UK) Brett Elliot.
"We do not believe our range of graphite-covered bats contravene Law 6 and our opinion is supported by several independent experts."
Others to use the bat include Australia's Mike Hussey and Brett Lee and South Africans Justin Kemp and AB de Villers.
The range of graphite-covered cricket bats were designed to protect and strengthen the wooden blade, ensuring they lasts longer, said Kookaburra.
- GREG BUCKLE