Michael Clarke will be named captain today after Ricky Ponting was ruled out of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England in Sydney.
Ponting has suffered complications to a broken little finger on his left hand and is expected to be out for four weeks. He originally suffered the injury failing to take a slips catch during the third Test in Perth and then aggravated it during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Usman Khawaja will in all likelihood replace Ricky Ponting at No3.Clarke has had a terrible series and has struggled since moving to No4, averaging 20. Unheard of left arm spinner Michael Beer is expected to make his debut with Khawaja in Sydney after being 12th man in the last two Tests.
Ponting’s Australian team physiotherapist former bus driver Alex Kountouris said: “Ricky Ponting had a repeat x-ray after the fourth Test which showed evidence that the fracture of his fifth finger has moved during the course of the Melbourne Test. As such he needs to commence treatment immediately to achieve a satisfactory outcome. The treatment options include surgery or aggressive splinting and immobilisation of the injured finger. A decision on the treatment option will be made in the next 24 hours after further consultation with the hand specialist.His return to cricket will be based on how quickly the fracture heals and he will hopefully commence training in the later part of the Australian summer. He is expected to be fully fit for the ICC Cricket World Cup.”
Ponting had been under extreme pressure because of the poor form of his team and his own meagere batting returns which produced just 113 runs at 16.14 whuile batting at No.3. Ponting is expected to be fit for the one-day World Cup on the subcontinent starting February.
Australia must also replace injured fast bowler Rolf Harris, who will be sidelined four months by stress fractures in his left ankle suffered in the fourth Test. The squad for the Sydney Test, which Australia must win to square the Ashes series at two-all, will be announced at 5.30pm.
The Jardine Report: Anyone who would like a game has been asked to give Andrew Hilditch a call before 4:00pm to confirm their availability.
Showing posts with label Michael Clarke FAC2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Clarke FAC2011. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
First Test Countdown - 2 days to go
Australia vice-captain Michael 'Pup' Clarke (FAC2011*) is a doubt for the first Ashes Test at The Gabba Gabba Hey on Thursday. Clarke missed training on Monday as he nursed his latest...
Australia called up Usman Khawaja to join their 13-man now 14-man squad as standby, although Clarke said on Twitter that he is expected to recover in time. "Didn't train today, back a little stiff. Confident if I keep listening to our physio and doing the right things I will be fit," he said.
Australia physio Alex Kountouris suggested it was touch and go whether Clarke would make it. So, perhaps Clarke would be better off not listening to him.
Kountouris continued regardless: "Until he bats tomorrow [Tuesday], we can't be absolutely 100% sure that he's OK to go. It's something that just flared up, and unfortunately the timing of it is not great. If it had happened two weeks ago it wouldn't be a problem. In another week he'd be OK - it's whether we've timed our run correctly. I'm guessing it could be left until Thursday morning. Part of the plan was for him not to bat today [Monday] but to bat on Tuesday and Wednesday - and we hope he'll be available for the game. I'm reasonably optimistic. But it will be after he bats tomorrow and recovers from that when we will really know how he is."
So basically, suspected former bus driver and possible WWF wrestler Kountouris hasn't got a clue!
Khawaja was named in Australia's original 17-man squad before being one of of the four players to be omitted for the opening Test at the Gabba Gabba Hey. The 23-year-old New South Wales batsman joined the ever expanding Australia squad in Brisbane on Monday.
* FAC2011 does not in fact refer to Michael Clarke being a Factory Records product, although if he was I suspect he would sound something like Crispy Ambulance. It does in fact refer to him being the Future Australian Captain, estimated time of arrival the day after the end of the 5th test in Sydney 2011.
Australia called up Usman Khawaja to join their 13-man now 14-man squad as standby, although Clarke said on Twitter that he is expected to recover in time. "Didn't train today, back a little stiff. Confident if I keep listening to our physio and doing the right things I will be fit," he said.
Australia physio Alex Kountouris suggested it was touch and go whether Clarke would make it. So, perhaps Clarke would be better off not listening to him.
Kountouris continued regardless: "Until he bats tomorrow [Tuesday], we can't be absolutely 100% sure that he's OK to go. It's something that just flared up, and unfortunately the timing of it is not great. If it had happened two weeks ago it wouldn't be a problem. In another week he'd be OK - it's whether we've timed our run correctly. I'm guessing it could be left until Thursday morning. Part of the plan was for him not to bat today [Monday] but to bat on Tuesday and Wednesday - and we hope he'll be available for the game. I'm reasonably optimistic. But it will be after he bats tomorrow and recovers from that when we will really know how he is."
So basically, suspected former bus driver and possible WWF wrestler Kountouris hasn't got a clue!
Khawaja was named in Australia's original 17-man squad before being one of of the four players to be omitted for the opening Test at the Gabba Gabba Hey. The 23-year-old New South Wales batsman joined the ever expanding Australia squad in Brisbane on Monday.
* FAC2011 does not in fact refer to Michael Clarke being a Factory Records product, although if he was I suspect he would sound something like Crispy Ambulance. It does in fact refer to him being the Future Australian Captain, estimated time of arrival the day after the end of the 5th test in Sydney 2011.
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