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

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.