Australia v. Zimbabwe - 2nd. Test - Sydney.

[Donny]

Injury concern widens for Australia before second Test
Lynn McConnell - October 13, 2003

Injuries continue to plague Australia and a squad of 14 players has been named to prepare for the second Test against Zimbabwe starting in Sydney on Friday. The latest concern is for Darren Lehmann who has suffered an achilles tendon strain.

Simon Katich has been included in the squad as cover for Lehmann while Brad Hogg would take Stuart MacGill's place if MacGill should fail his fitness test. Nathan Brackan has also been included in the squad. With a replacement necessary for Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams would be favoured to make his Test debut.

In a worst case scenario with Lehmann and MacGill out of the side and Katich, Hogg and Williams included, with only 53 Tests between them, it would be the least experienced Australian attack for many years.

The Australian squad is: Steve Waugh (capt), Ricky Ponting, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Brad Williams.

[Donny]

Katich and Bracken called up

Wisden Cricinfo staff

Jason Gillespie was ruled with a torn muscle in his side, while Simon Katich earned a surprise recall as Australia's selectors named a squad of 14 for the second Test against Zimbabwe which starts at the Sydney Cricket Ground later this week.

Gillespie will fly to Sydney with the squad to continue treatment with Errol Alcott, the team physiotherapist, and an assessment will be made about his availability for the one-day tournament in India later this month.

Stuart MacGill and Darren Lehmann, suffering from a a torn calf muscle and tendonitis respectively, have been included in the 14 and given a chance to prove their fitness.

Brad Williams, who was the 12th man in Perth, retains his place, and there are call-ups for Brad Hogg and Nathan Bracken as well as for Katich. A graceful left-hander, Katich was once the golden boy of the Australian domestic circuit, but has not played for Australia since his Test debut at Headingley in 2001. A move to New South Wales from Western Australia seems to have revived his career, and he has now been called up ahead of Martin Love, who thumped a century against Bangladesh in his last Test appearance.

Bracken has represented Australia in ODIs, and was part of the Test squad that toured England in 2001, though he was forced home early by a shoulder injury.

The injuries to Gillespie, MacGill and Lehmann forced Cricket Australia's hand, and Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, 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."

On the selection of Bracken and Williams, 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."

Hogg will most likely play only if MacGill is ruled out, while Katich is seen as the ideal replacement if Lehmann misses out. "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," said Hohns. "We weren't on the lookout simply for a batsman as a potential replacement for Darren, rather a batting allrounder. 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."

[Donny]

Darren Lehmann is out of the second Test. He was ruled out today after a scan revealed acute inflammation of his troublesome left Achilles tendon.

This leaves the option for Australia to play 4 pacemen and Hogg (or MacGill if he passes a fitness test) and bat Gilly at 6 or just replace Boof with Katich.

[Donny]

Zimbabwe won the toss and batted.

At stumps they are 8/246.

Carlisle made his maiden century but 27 from their keeper, Taibu, was next best. Carlisle's 118 contained 15 fours and 2 sixes.

Lee, Williams, Bichel and Hogg each took two wickets.

[labrooy]

Congrats to Carlisle. He deserved his century. Although the Aussie attack has been severely weakened it is still a very potent one.

[Donny]

The Blignaut (31)/Price (20) partnership has reached 52 invaluable runs.

Zimbabwe are 8/295.

[Donny]

Williams gets his first Test catch.

He caught Price (20) at mid off from Bichel's bowling. 9/297

[Donny]

Zimbabwe were all out for 308.

Blignaut was 38 n.o. and Bichel took 4/66.

[Donny]

Ouch ! Either a shocker from Langer or a very good ball. Gone for 2.

Is it too early to say Alfie is in the hot seat ? His Warriors team-mate, Mike Hussey (5 years younger than Langer) averages over 52 in first class cricket, had a big season in County cricket and just moved a step or two closer to a baggy green.

[Donny]

Hayden's average for the series just dropped from 380 to 200 as Blignaut gets him for 20.

Ponting looks like really punishing this attack and has races to 55 from 52 balls. Martyn looks in good touch as well, with 2 fours in his 10 from 13. 2/90.

[Donny]

The Ponting/Martyn partnership moves on to 89 from 95 balls.

Ponting is 83 from 91 balls and Martyn, 30 from 43.

[Donny]

Martyn goes for 32, l.b.w. to Price. The partnership was 97.

Ponting is 87 n.o. 3/148.

[Donny]

At tea, Australia is 3/162 with Ponting on 97 n.o. and Waugh, 4 n.o.

[Donny]

The 200 comes up for Australia.

Ponting is 123 n.o. and Waugh, 18 n.o. 3/202

[Donny]

When bad light stopped play, Australia was on 3/245 with Ponting on 137 n.o. and Waugh, 43 n.o.