Fourteen-man squad announced for second 3 Test
Cricket Australia today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen a 14-man squad, with two players selected subject to fitness assessments, for the second 3 Test match against Zimbabwe, beginning in Sydney on 17 October.
Cricket Australia
13-Oct-2003
Cricket Australia today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen a 14-man squad, with two players selected subject to fitness assessments, for the second 3 Test match against Zimbabwe, beginning in Sydney on 17 October.
The squad is:
| STATE | AGE | TESTS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Waugh (captain) | NSW | 38 | 163 |
| Ricky Ponting (vice-captain) | TAS | 28 | 70 |
| Andrew Bichel | QLD | 33 | 16 |
| Nathan Bracken | NSW | 26 | 0 |
| Adam Gilchrist | WA | 32 | 46 |
| Matthew Hayden | QLD | 31 | 45 |
| Brad Hogg | WA | 33 | 3 |
| Simon Katich | NSW | 28 | 1 |
| Justin Langer | WA | 31 | 55 |
| Brett Lee | NSW | 26 | 34 |
| Darren Lehmann (subject to fitness) | SA | 33 | 15 |
| Stuart MacGill (subject to fitness) | NSW | 32 | 26 |
| Damien Martyn | WA | 31 | 34 |
| Brad Williams | WA | 28 | 0 |
Fast-bowler Jason Gillespie has been ruled out of the squad due to a grade one tear of his left grunt muscle sustained on the third day of the first 3 Test in Perth.
Gillespie will fly to Sydney with the squad to continue treatment with team physiotherapist, Errol Alcott, where an assessment will be made about his availability for this month's Travelex One-Day International Tour of India.
Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and middle-order batsman Darren Lehmann have both been selected in the squad subject to proving their fitness.
MacGill is suffering from a grade one-plus tear of his right calf muscle that sidelined him late on the third day of the first Test. Lehmann has been troubled by on-going tendonitis in his left Achilles tendon.
The squad will be reduced to 12 players once MacGill and Lehmann's fitness has been determined.
Three players have been introduced to the squad, along with the uncapped Brad Williams who was named 12th man for the first 3 Test.
Western Australian left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg returns to the international arena following the Top End Tour against Bangladesh, while the New South Wales pair of Simon Katich and Nathan Bracken have also received a call-up.
For left-hand batsman and wrist-spinner Katich, it will be his first opportunity to represent Australia since his one and only Test appearance against England at Headingley in 2001.
Left-arm quick Bracken, an Australian one-day international representative and member of the triumphant 2003 World Cup squad has yet to play a Test.
He was part of the Australian squad that toured England in 2001 but was forced to return home prematurely due to a shoulder injury.
NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said: "Injuries have forced us to make several changes and we will have a better idea as to how we are placed once Stuart MacGill and Darren Lehmann have undergone fitness tests in Sydney.
"Going on the advice of the medical team, Jason Gillespie has been ruled out and we will monitor his progress over the next few days before making a decision about his place in the one-day touring party for India.
"Despite these injuries we feel that we have been able to select players who can cover adequately for those on the casualty list," he said.
Speaking about the new names selected in the squad, Hohns said: "The inclusion of Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken gives us the flexibility of playing four fast bowlers if required.
"Nathan has performed well at one-day international level and being a left-arm bowler means he offers us a little bit of variety in the pace bowling department.
"Brad Hogg is a ready-made spinner who can come in for Stuart MacGill if he isn't fit, or we take up the option of playing two spinners.
"With Darren Lehmann's fitness under a cloud, we felt Simon Katich, who like Darren can slot into the middle-order as well as bowl some handy left-arm wrist spin, was a suitable replacement.
"We weren't on the lookout simply for a batsman as a potential replacement for Darren, rather a batting all-rounder. Simon's bowling was a major influence in our decision making.
"Martin Love was certainly considered, but on this occasion we felt Simon's bowling record on the Sydney Cricket Ground would prove valuable," he said.