The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia delays naming squad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Australia delays naming squad

SYDNEY, NOV. 9. Australia delayed announcing its squad for the first cricket Test against New Zealand next week and Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming delayed his arrival in Sydney due to illness.

Later it was announced that the New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming will miss the Black Caps' opening match beginning here on Thursday.

Fleming had been `suffering from virus symptoms over the last few days', a statement said.

He was due to remain in New Zealand until Friday before rejoining the team in preparation for the first Test against Australia on November 18 in Brisbane.

Australian selectors were due to release the squad for the November 18 to 22 Test match in Brisbane on Tuesday, but were late finalising the line-up and postponed the announcement to Wednesday.

Skipper Ricky Ponting's return from an injured thumb and Michael Clarke's brilliant tour to India means there's an extra batsman in the middle order.

That leaves Clarke in a three-way selection battle with veteran Darren Lehmann and Simon Katich for No. 5 and No. 6 spots .

Australia stuck with pace trio — Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz — in the 2-1 series win in India, but Brett Lee could make a comeback for home Tests, where his pure pace is suited to local conditions.

Warne doubtful

Leg-spinner Shane Warne could miss next week's Test after breaking his thumb on the eve of the fourth Test against India last week. Stuart MacGill is a likely replacement — despite missing the India tour — ahead of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, if Warne is not available. — AP

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