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http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/hussey-the-windies-target-20120423-1xfmg.html
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/starc-poised-for-tour-debut-in-ponting-finale-20120422-1xf1n.html
Hussey the Windies target..
Andrew Wu, Roseau, Dominica
April 23, 2012 - 7:31AM
Australia's Mike Hussey, left, speaks to his coach Mickey Arthur. Photo: AP
MICHAEL CLARKE might have started the series as the world's top-ranked Test batsman but it's Michael Hussey who the West Indies are sick of seeing at the crease.
So impressed have the Windies been by Hussey, captain Darren Sammy has identified the evergreen left-hander as the key Australian wicket in the third and final Test starting on Monday.
Hussey has answered his team's call in each of his four innings this series whether he be required to graft for hours or make a cavalier contribution when chasing quick runs.
"So far Hussey has always come in and played a crucial role. He always does well for Australia and its one area well be looking to put a stop to," Sammy said.
"Once we have them five down, he seems to bat well with the lower order. So well be looking to get him out as quickly as possible.
"Like I said, weve executed our plans to the top order really well."
Hussey is Australia's leading run-scorer, with 177 runs at 44.25 this series.
"Huss continues to play a big part in this team, thats for sure, throughout this series and scored some vital runs," said Michael Clarke.
"Were looking for nothing different from Huss. Hopefully he can continue to perform well and finish what has been a really good summer of Test cricket for us."
The Windies, however, are intent on ensuring that does not happen for Australia.
They received a rousing ovation the last Test they played at Windsor Park when they drew against the then top-ranked India, "but this year we want to go one step further", Sammy said.
"Its all about winning. Whatever we gonna do it's getting to winning this Test match and levelling the series," said Sammy, whose team drew the ODI and Twenty20 series leading into the Tests.
"And were going to go out on the cricket field, compete and play five hard days of cricket and hopefully well be on the winning end."
Selectors Rod Marsh, Mickey Arthur and Clarke had their first glimpse of the Test strip on Sunday and saw a pitch with more grass than previous wickets encountered this series.
A final XI will be released on game day though Starc is tipped to edge out Beer for the final berth in the pace attack.
LIKELY TEAMS
Australia: Ed Cowan, David Warner, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (c), Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Michael Beer (12th man)
West Indies: Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Carlton Baugh, Darren Sammy (c), Shane Shillingford, Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards or Ravi Rampaul
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/starc-poised-for-tour-debut-in-ponting-finale-20120422-1xf1n.html
Starc poised for tour debut in Ponting finale..
April 23, 2012
Caribbean dream ... a pace-friendly Windsor Park pitch means Mitchell Starc may make the starting 11 at the expense of spinner Michael Beer. Photo: Getty Images
ROSEAU, Dominica: Ricky Ponting's last Test in the West Indies, and perhaps his career, is likely to mark Mitchell Starc's Caribbean debut as Australia contemplate abandoning the spin-twin formula for the series decider, starting on Monday.
Starc's chances of earning a call-up from the bench for his first game of the tour soared when the Windsor Park covers were peeled back to reveal what has been an unfamiliar sight this tour - a pitch sporting healthy, though inconsistent, grass coverage.
But with spin responsible for half the 80 wickets to fall in the two first-class games played at the venue this year it is not yet a fait accompli Starc will play. Should the paceman win a recall it will be at the expense of spinner Michael Beer.
''With a bit more grass on the surface there's probably a chance we'll go in with three quicks in this game compared to the make-up from last week but I'm sure we'll decide on that tomorrow afternoon,'' Ponting said on Saturday.
The prospect of a faster pitch will also encourage batsmen from both sides, who have been forced to labour in sluggish conditions this series, but there are concerns the unevenly grassed pitch may provide varying bounce. No first-class team has passed 300 this year at the venue.
Windies coach Ottis Gibson made pitch-side inquiries with the Windsor Park curator, Pablo Letang, but was assured the wicket would provide an even contest between bat and ball.
With Australia not due to play another Test in the Windies until 2015, this week's match will almost certainly be Ponting's international swansong in the Caribbean. But a day after receiving strong support from Mickey Arthur, Ponting was given the strongest public indication yet he will be asked to saddle up for the first Test of the Australian summer, against South Africa.
''If he continues to play the way he's played throughout the last 12 months - he had a wonderful summer - then I see no reason why he won't be in the team come the first Test against South Africa,'' skipper Michael Clarke said.
''There's a lot of cricket to be played from now till then. Ricky's not currently in our one-day squad but we also have some first-class cricket leading up to that first Test so I'm confident Ricky's batting well and he's not far away from a big score.
''If we get a decent wicket here I wouldn't be surprised if he finished the summer on a very high note.''
The victim of bad luck rather than poor form in the Caribbean, Ponting said he was ''in as good a shape as ever'', though critics will say that is not a view supported by his lean return - 66 runs from four innings.
''I feel very comfortable with the way that I'm playing,'' Ponting said. ''I finished the Shield season really strongly and, as I say, I've felt in really good shape the whole time I've been here. So that's all that really worries me. It would have been nice to make a few more last week but if I keep doing the things preparation-wise this week then hopefully a big score is around the corner here.''
No longer in the ODI side, Ponting will have a rare winter at home before the start of the Shield season, likely to be as early as mid-September. Then comes a hectic 14-month schedule next summer that will feature home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka followed by a defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India and back-to-back Ashes campaigns. ''I know I'll have a couple of months completely cricket-free but I'm not going to waste my time,'' he said. ''I need to make sure that I'm looking after myself and preparing well, training hard. I'll have things mapped out and make sure that I do things really strictly and give myself the best chance to start the summer well.''
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