Stuart Clark ruled out of Second Test
19:33 AEST Thu Oct 16 2008
Australia were struck a serious blow on the eve of the Second Test against India at the PCA Stadium after paceman Stuart Clark was ruled out due to the inflamed elbow he picked up in the first match.
Clark's failure to prove his recovery from the niggling complaint means a first Test cap for 23-year-old Victorian Peter Siddle, who has impressed all observers within and without the touring squad with his wholehearted efforts in India.
"Stuart Clark suffered elbow pain in the first Test. This has ruled him out of the Second Test," Australian team physio Alex Kountouris said.
"He will receive treatment over the coming days and his progress will be monitored."
Skipper Ricky Ponting said Siddle would be well and truly up to the task on Friday, becoming Australia's third debutant in as many Tests after Cameron White in Bangalore and the seemingly forgotten Beau Casson in Barbados.
Siddle has only played 12 first-class matches in his life, but won over Australia's selectors by taking nine wickets in unforgiving conditions during the Sheffield Shield final in Sydney earlier this year.
His main question mark is a bowling shoulder that was operated on after that match, and which still affects his throwing from the outfield.
"He doesn't think too much about the outside distractions," said Ponting.
"I've looked at him pretty closely since I've been here and been very impressed with him. I don't think it will affect him too much.
"As far as his bowling goes he's ready, he's still a little restricted with his outfield throwing, but what he can give us with the ball is a real bonus for the side.
"He's got good pace, good presence, will keep running in for you.
"A no-nonsense sort of guy and no-nonsense sort of bowler and you can't ask for any more than that."
Indian captain Anil Kumble also enters the match under a heavy fitness cloud, and in his pre-match press conference freely admitted he did not know if he or someone else - probably wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni - would be tossing the coin on Friday.
"It's 24 hours before the match, so we'll just wait and see how it responds," he said.
"It's a lot better than what it was yesterday."
Kumble said the potential loss of Clark would be a sizeable blow to Australia's chances.
"Fitness concerns are there in both camps," he said.
"He's definitely a key bowler, if you look back at the last few matches he's played, he's had a wonderful record."
Probable teams
India: Anil Kumble (capt), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra (12th man).
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Jason Krejza (12th man).
