Ricky Ponting Likely to Go With Nathan Hauritz for First Ashes Test
Ricky Ponting is likely to include 27-year-old spinner Nathan Hauritz in the first Ashes Test but admits all-rounder Shane Watson is a doubt
Australia appear to be reconciling themselves to being without the all-rounder Shane Watson and possibly their former No1 strike bowler, Brett Lee, when the first Ashes Test starts at Cardiff a week tomorrow.
Watson, who is recovering from a thigh injury, has not played on tour so far. His first batting session was aborted today when rain ended nets early at Worcester. Australia's captain, Ricky Ponting, admitted that he had no idea when the Queenslander was likely to start bowling again.
Tomorrow's game against England Lions is the last warm-up match but even had Watson batted today it was always planned to leave him out. Lee will be given another chance of becoming one of four bowlers at Cardiff. At present the fourth seems to be the 27-year-old off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who turned in match figures of one for 158 from 38 overs last week at Hove against an understrength Sussex.
Australia believe Cardiff will offer spin – a batch of statistics showing the most successful bowlers there this season arrived at the Australian hotel yesterday – and Ponting said Hauritz had always been penciled in for both warm-up games
"Right from the start the plan was to make sure he had the opportunity to play in these two games and get some good-quality bowling in against some good-quality players in these conditions. He wasn't in the South African squad so he's been starved of five-day cricket for quite a while."
With Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle more or less certain of Test spots, that leaves Lee going head-to-head with Stuart Clark for the third quick slot, as Ponting made it clear today that he is more than happy with the team that won the spring series 2–1 in South Africa after being beaten in Australia. Lee missed the South Africa tour and while he was recovering from ankle surgery Johnson, Siddle and Clark were thriving.
"Brett's record speaks for itself," said Ponting. "He's a great bowler, there is no doubt about that, and the next four days will give us a good look at him up close."
According to Ponting, the bowling line-up will not be decided until Australia have had a good look at the Cardiff wicket.
"I'm not getting carried away with what it might be. We'll make a more informed judgment when we get down there," he said. "There are absolutely no certainties for the first Test at the moment. The spots are still up for grabs as far as I'm concerned. There are five fast bowlers in our squad and probably all of them feel that they should be playing in the first Test."
The batting looks more settled. With Watson missing, the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin moves up to No7, followed by Johnson, who has a Test century and a 90 to his name.
Australians (probable batting order) v England Lions, Worcester Hughes, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Haddin, Johnson, Lee, Hauritz, Clark.
Watson, who is recovering from a thigh injury, has not played on tour so far. His first batting session was aborted today when rain ended nets early at Worcester. Australia's captain, Ricky Ponting, admitted that he had no idea when the Queenslander was likely to start bowling again.
Tomorrow's game against England Lions is the last warm-up match but even had Watson batted today it was always planned to leave him out. Lee will be given another chance of becoming one of four bowlers at Cardiff. At present the fourth seems to be the 27-year-old off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who turned in match figures of one for 158 from 38 overs last week at Hove against an understrength Sussex.
Australia believe Cardiff will offer spin – a batch of statistics showing the most successful bowlers there this season arrived at the Australian hotel yesterday – and Ponting said Hauritz had always been penciled in for both warm-up games
"Right from the start the plan was to make sure he had the opportunity to play in these two games and get some good-quality bowling in against some good-quality players in these conditions. He wasn't in the South African squad so he's been starved of five-day cricket for quite a while."
With Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle more or less certain of Test spots, that leaves Lee going head-to-head with Stuart Clark for the third quick slot, as Ponting made it clear today that he is more than happy with the team that won the spring series 2–1 in South Africa after being beaten in Australia. Lee missed the South Africa tour and while he was recovering from ankle surgery Johnson, Siddle and Clark were thriving.
"Brett's record speaks for itself," said Ponting. "He's a great bowler, there is no doubt about that, and the next four days will give us a good look at him up close."
According to Ponting, the bowling line-up will not be decided until Australia have had a good look at the Cardiff wicket.
"I'm not getting carried away with what it might be. We'll make a more informed judgment when we get down there," he said. "There are absolutely no certainties for the first Test at the moment. The spots are still up for grabs as far as I'm concerned. There are five fast bowlers in our squad and probably all of them feel that they should be playing in the first Test."
The batting looks more settled. With Watson missing, the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin moves up to No7, followed by Johnson, who has a Test century and a 90 to his name.
Australians (probable batting order) v England Lions, Worcester Hughes, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Haddin, Johnson, Lee, Hauritz, Clark.
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