الرئيسية
By Greg Stutchbury, Reuters
(Reuters) - Australia are facing an injury crisis ahead of
their first test against New Zealand with five players already ruled out
due to injuries sustained on their tour of South Africa.
All-rounder
Shane Watson (hamstring), fast bowlers Pat Cummins (heel), Ryan Harris
(pelvis) and Mitchell Johnson (toe), and batsman Shaun Marsh (back) had
all been ruled out of the match starting on December 1 at the Gabba in
Brisbane, Cricket Australia said on Friday.
"We unfortunately
suffered some injuries during the recent test series against South
Africa," general manager for team performance Pat Howard said in a
statement.
"With such a short turnaround time between series,
five players who were involved in the series will not fully recover in
time to play the first ... test against New Zealand."
The
injuries to their three fast bowlers is of particular concern. Cummins
was man of the match on debut in the second test against South Africa
when Michael Clarke's side tied the series with a two-wicket win.
The
18-year-old sustained a heel injury in that match and while he had been
cleared of any serious injury, Australian team physiotherapist Alex
Kountouris said they would need to carefully manage his bowling workload
as Australia also face India in a four test series that starts on
December 26.
BALANCE
Johnson, who has been battling for
form, has a strong record against New Zealand having captured 26 wickets
in four tests at an average of 16.57 and bowled his side to victory in
their last test against the Black Caps in 2010.
Watson's absence
could also affect the balance of the Australian side with the former
bowling all-rounder now a successful opening batsman, who provides a
fourth or fifth seaming option.
Kountouris said all five players
would be assessed next week for their availability for the second match
in Hobart on December 9.
The first test side will be named on
Saturday, with several of the players in the Australia A side playing
New Zealand in Brisbane now in contention.
New Zealand, who have
not won a test match in Australia since 1985, or a test against their
closest neighbours since 1993, notched up 423 from 97 overs in their
first innings against the shadow test side at Alan Border Field.
Opening
batsman Brendon McCullum plundered their attack on the first day,
scoring 146 off 115 balls, while fast bowler Doug Bracewell was 73 not
out off 79 balls in an innings that included nine boundaries and three
sixes.
New Zealand smashed 133 runs in the first session on Friday before being dismissed just before lunch.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
(Reuters) - Australia are facing an injury crisis ahead of
their first test against New Zealand with five players already ruled out
due to injuries sustained on their tour of South Africa.
All-rounder
Shane Watson (hamstring), fast bowlers Pat Cummins (heel), Ryan Harris
(pelvis) and Mitchell Johnson (toe), and batsman Shaun Marsh (back) had
all been ruled out of the match starting on December 1 at the Gabba in
Brisbane, Cricket Australia said on Friday.
"We unfortunately
suffered some injuries during the recent test series against South
Africa," general manager for team performance Pat Howard said in a
statement.
"With such a short turnaround time between series,
five players who were involved in the series will not fully recover in
time to play the first ... test against New Zealand."
The
injuries to their three fast bowlers is of particular concern. Cummins
was man of the match on debut in the second test against South Africa
when Michael Clarke's side tied the series with a two-wicket win.
The
18-year-old sustained a heel injury in that match and while he had been
cleared of any serious injury, Australian team physiotherapist Alex
Kountouris said they would need to carefully manage his bowling workload
as Australia also face India in a four test series that starts on
December 26.
BALANCE
Johnson, who has been battling for
form, has a strong record against New Zealand having captured 26 wickets
in four tests at an average of 16.57 and bowled his side to victory in
their last test against the Black Caps in 2010.
Watson's absence
could also affect the balance of the Australian side with the former
bowling all-rounder now a successful opening batsman, who provides a
fourth or fifth seaming option.
Kountouris said all five players
would be assessed next week for their availability for the second match
in Hobart on December 9.
The first test side will be named on
Saturday, with several of the players in the Australia A side playing
New Zealand in Brisbane now in contention.
New Zealand, who have
not won a test match in Australia since 1985, or a test against their
closest neighbours since 1993, notched up 423 from 97 overs in their
first innings against the shadow test side at Alan Border Field.
Opening
batsman Brendon McCullum plundered their attack on the first day,
scoring 146 off 115 balls, while fast bowler Doug Bracewell was 73 not
out off 79 balls in an innings that included nine boundaries and three
sixes.
New Zealand smashed 133 runs in the first session on Friday before being dismissed just before lunch.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford)