LIONS then DAYLIGHT
16 Nov 2005, 18:59
Article sourced from www.foxsports.com.au
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Shane Warne in doubt
By Tom Wald
November 16, 2005
SHANE Warne has been struck down with a back injury and is in major doubt for the second Test against the West Indies starting tomorrow in Hobart.
The highest Test wicket-taker in history is suffering lower back pain and NSW seamer Stuart Clark is flying down to Tasmania tonight as cover for the legspinner.
Warne has been given until tomorrow morning to prove his fitness for the clash at Bellerive Oval.
A Cricket Australia spokeswoman said it was the first time Warne had suffered the injury.
If Warne is ruled out, seamer Nathan Bracken and spin bowler Stuart MacGill will both play in the match.
The Victorian started feeling pain in his back last night and received treatment for it today.
Clark was called up as cover during this year's Ashes series and made his one-day international debut in last month's Super Series against the World XI in Melbourne.
The ultra-accurate right-armer was cover for the Super Test at the SCG before being allowed to fly up for NSW's ING Cup match against Queensland in Brisbane on October 14.
Captain Ricky Ponting also believes there is room for both Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson in the Test side in the future.
The skipper is a staunch supporter of the power-packed Queensland duo and Symonds can strengthen his case for an extended run in the second Test against the West Indies.
Symonds, a superstar in the one-day game, was called up for the Bellerive Oval clash after Watson busted his shoulder in the opening Test in Brisbane this month.
He has a chance to prove he is more than just a fill-in for Watson after Symonds struggled in his two appearances in the baggy green in Sri Lanka last year.
Ponting supported claims the hard-hitting right-hander could average more than 50 with the bat in Test cricket and that both he and Watson could play in the same team in the extended version of the game.
"There is no reason why that couldn't happen," Ponting said today.
"I think both of those guys are good enough to play as batsman in Test cricket and batsman alone.
"(Queensland captain) Jimmy Maher said during the week that Symo could average 50 as a batsman in Test cricket and I don't have any different thoughts to that.
"I think he could do that, we have seen how talented he is. It is just about him going out there and doing it."
Andrew Flintoff's stunning performance in England's Ashes victory this year has sent Australian cricket scurrying about to find an equivalent in its ranks.
Watson was touted as the player to match Flintoff's versatility before Symonds became the next cab off the rank last week.
However Symonds is a different kettle of fish, a handy medium-pace and off-spin bowler, not a paceman like Flintoff and Watson.
"If he comes in and plays as well as we know he can play then he would be someone who would be pretty hard to leave out of your side going forward," Ponting said.
"We know how good a cricketer he can be and we have all seen that in domestic cricket and in his one-day cricket for Australia as well."
Symonds has developed into a much smarter cricketer but showed signs of immaturity in June by turning up to a one-day international match drunk in England.
He reiterated today his vow not to temper his naturally aggressive batting style at Test level.
"There is a definite opportunity there, but the thing you have to do I suppose is not look at the big picture and just go out there and enjoy the game, and play the way I play," he said.
Selectors have clearly changed their minds about Symonds after members of the national panel told him last year that they were not convinced he was Test material after he bombed out on the subcontinent.
He had feared being lumped as a one-day specialist.
"... after Sri Lanka, I just kind of looked at it and I thought 'Will I ever get to wear the baggy green again?'," he said.
"It looked like I wouldn't the way things were going and the group of players they were looking to select from, unfortunately for Watto it has been an injury that has given me a chance.
"But within this group it is so strong you have to take whatever chance you can get."
Ponting has been a key ally for Symonds, pushing the strapping allrounder's case to play in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
The Gold Coast player was a controversial selection at the time but it proved a masterstroke as he blossomed into a match winner in Australia's triumphant campaign.
Batsman Brad Hodge will make his debut tomorrow after he and Symonds were confirmed as starters while a decision was delayed on whether to choose seamer Nathan Bracken or spin bowler Stuart MacGill.
The West Indies were playing their selection cards close to their chests today with allrounder Dwayne Bravo a strong chance of coming in for quick Jermaine Lawson.
AAP
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The Great Man
http://www.muralitharan.org/murali/images/world%20match-murali3.jpg
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Shane Warne in doubt
By Tom Wald
November 16, 2005
SHANE Warne has been struck down with a back injury and is in major doubt for the second Test against the West Indies starting tomorrow in Hobart.
The highest Test wicket-taker in history is suffering lower back pain and NSW seamer Stuart Clark is flying down to Tasmania tonight as cover for the legspinner.
Warne has been given until tomorrow morning to prove his fitness for the clash at Bellerive Oval.
A Cricket Australia spokeswoman said it was the first time Warne had suffered the injury.
If Warne is ruled out, seamer Nathan Bracken and spin bowler Stuart MacGill will both play in the match.
The Victorian started feeling pain in his back last night and received treatment for it today.
Clark was called up as cover during this year's Ashes series and made his one-day international debut in last month's Super Series against the World XI in Melbourne.
The ultra-accurate right-armer was cover for the Super Test at the SCG before being allowed to fly up for NSW's ING Cup match against Queensland in Brisbane on October 14.
Captain Ricky Ponting also believes there is room for both Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson in the Test side in the future.
The skipper is a staunch supporter of the power-packed Queensland duo and Symonds can strengthen his case for an extended run in the second Test against the West Indies.
Symonds, a superstar in the one-day game, was called up for the Bellerive Oval clash after Watson busted his shoulder in the opening Test in Brisbane this month.
He has a chance to prove he is more than just a fill-in for Watson after Symonds struggled in his two appearances in the baggy green in Sri Lanka last year.
Ponting supported claims the hard-hitting right-hander could average more than 50 with the bat in Test cricket and that both he and Watson could play in the same team in the extended version of the game.
"There is no reason why that couldn't happen," Ponting said today.
"I think both of those guys are good enough to play as batsman in Test cricket and batsman alone.
"(Queensland captain) Jimmy Maher said during the week that Symo could average 50 as a batsman in Test cricket and I don't have any different thoughts to that.
"I think he could do that, we have seen how talented he is. It is just about him going out there and doing it."
Andrew Flintoff's stunning performance in England's Ashes victory this year has sent Australian cricket scurrying about to find an equivalent in its ranks.
Watson was touted as the player to match Flintoff's versatility before Symonds became the next cab off the rank last week.
However Symonds is a different kettle of fish, a handy medium-pace and off-spin bowler, not a paceman like Flintoff and Watson.
"If he comes in and plays as well as we know he can play then he would be someone who would be pretty hard to leave out of your side going forward," Ponting said.
"We know how good a cricketer he can be and we have all seen that in domestic cricket and in his one-day cricket for Australia as well."
Symonds has developed into a much smarter cricketer but showed signs of immaturity in June by turning up to a one-day international match drunk in England.
He reiterated today his vow not to temper his naturally aggressive batting style at Test level.
"There is a definite opportunity there, but the thing you have to do I suppose is not look at the big picture and just go out there and enjoy the game, and play the way I play," he said.
Selectors have clearly changed their minds about Symonds after members of the national panel told him last year that they were not convinced he was Test material after he bombed out on the subcontinent.
He had feared being lumped as a one-day specialist.
"... after Sri Lanka, I just kind of looked at it and I thought 'Will I ever get to wear the baggy green again?'," he said.
"It looked like I wouldn't the way things were going and the group of players they were looking to select from, unfortunately for Watto it has been an injury that has given me a chance.
"But within this group it is so strong you have to take whatever chance you can get."
Ponting has been a key ally for Symonds, pushing the strapping allrounder's case to play in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
The Gold Coast player was a controversial selection at the time but it proved a masterstroke as he blossomed into a match winner in Australia's triumphant campaign.
Batsman Brad Hodge will make his debut tomorrow after he and Symonds were confirmed as starters while a decision was delayed on whether to choose seamer Nathan Bracken or spin bowler Stuart MacGill.
The West Indies were playing their selection cards close to their chests today with allrounder Dwayne Bravo a strong chance of coming in for quick Jermaine Lawson.
AAP
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The Great Man
http://www.muralitharan.org/murali/images/world%20match-murali3.jpg