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Ponting punts for MacGill
From Greg Buckle in Port Elizabeth
March 6, 2006
RICKY Ponting may have handed Stuart MacGill a lifeline by publicly suggesting selectors overlook his Pura Cup form and include him for the Test series against South Africa.
Mixed form ... MacGill's Pura Cup form has been disappointing. Pic: Phil Hillyard
The 14-man Australia squad for the three-Test series will be named tomorrow and leg-spin bowler MacGill has done himself no favours with his Pura Cup season return of 15 wickets at an expensive 58.73 for New South Wales.
But Australia skipper Ponting backed MacGill today on the basis of his experience and his impressive Test record of 182 wickets at 27.94 in 38 matches.
MacGill took four scalps in Australia's eight-wicket win in the third Test against Graeme Smith's Proteas at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January, and Ponting would like to play a second spinner alongside Shane Warne in at least one of the Tests in South Africa, likely including the first match in Cape Town from March 16.
The other competitor for a spin berth is South Australia tweaker Daniel Cullen, who nabbed 4-111 against Western Australia in Perth on Saturday in his first match back from a broken finger.
Ponting saw the experience of MacGill as a valuable ingredient for the tour squad bowling attack, especially with the talismanic Glenn McGrath unavailable.
"I believe (MacGill) hasn't had the greatest Pura Cup season, but as we know at Test level he's a proven wicket-taker and he continues to do it game after game," Ponting said today.
"When a lot of people think he mightn't, he puts his hand up and does the business.
"I've got no doubt that the first wicket in Cape Town will spin.
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"It would be hard to look past MacGill. His record in Test cricket is outstanding anyway."
Ponting said he would be speaking with touring selector Andrew Hilditch about the Test squad.
"I'll be interested to hear what he (Hilditch) has heard back at home, as far as some of the bowlers are concerned," Ponting added.
"A lot of our experience comes from our spinners.
"If we happen to play two spinners there is a lot of experience in our attack. With (paceman) Brett (Lee) having played a fair bit of cricket as well, whichever way they decide to go with the faster bowlers, we'll have enough experience there."
Ponting's comments may also open the door for young South Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait, 23, who made his Test debut on last year's Ashes tour and is vying for a Test berth with experienced teammate Jason Gillespie and Queensland's Michael Kasprowicz.
Lee, who took 4-48 today against South Africa, said Australia was well-stocked for pace options in the absence of McGrath, who is unavailable because of his wife Jane's cancer battle.
"Whichever way they go I'm sure they are going to make the right call, whether it be someone like Jason, Kasper or some young blood like a Shaun Tait,'' Lee said.
Lee said it was great to be leading the Australia attack but he would prefer to have McGrath by his side.
"You definitely miss a guy like Glenn down that other end, but in saying that the guys I have been bowling with have been outstanding - Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark," he said.
"Shane Watson, I've been really happy the way that he has bowled the last two or three matches."
While opening batsman Phil Jaques and Blues teammate Michael Clarke could be duelling for a back-up batsman's role in the Test squad, the X-factor is whether selectors will choose two all rounders.
Andrew Symonds has taken fellow Queensland all rounder Watson's spot in the Test side since Watson injured his shoulder in November, but now it's Symonds who has missed the first three limited-overs games with a hip flexor strain.
All rounder Watson, with 2-46 and 27 runs, was a rare bright spot for the world champions in the crushing defeat by 196 runs on Friday and backed up with 2-49 today.
Symonds, with eight wickets in his seven Tests and a batting average of 16.81, is tipped to stay in the eleven for the time being, based partly on Australia's willingness to field two spinners.
No doubt Symonds is keen to get back on the park for Friday's fourth match in Durban and Ponting says a return is on the cards.
"He was very close to being right today," Ponting said.
"It's going to be a tough selection which every way they go with the Test squad, if they decide to keep two all rounders on or decide to keep one." Australia</B> (possible): Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (captain), Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Shaun Tait, Phil Jaques/Michael Clarke, Shane Watson/Jason Gillespie.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18363984-23210,00.html
Looks like Macgill is going.
From Greg Buckle in Port Elizabeth
March 6, 2006
RICKY Ponting may have handed Stuart MacGill a lifeline by publicly suggesting selectors overlook his Pura Cup form and include him for the Test series against South Africa.
The 14-man Australia squad for the three-Test series will be named tomorrow and leg-spin bowler MacGill has done himself no favours with his Pura Cup season return of 15 wickets at an expensive 58.73 for New South Wales.
But Australia skipper Ponting backed MacGill today on the basis of his experience and his impressive Test record of 182 wickets at 27.94 in 38 matches.
MacGill took four scalps in Australia's eight-wicket win in the third Test against Graeme Smith's Proteas at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January, and Ponting would like to play a second spinner alongside Shane Warne in at least one of the Tests in South Africa, likely including the first match in Cape Town from March 16.
The other competitor for a spin berth is South Australia tweaker Daniel Cullen, who nabbed 4-111 against Western Australia in Perth on Saturday in his first match back from a broken finger.
Ponting saw the experience of MacGill as a valuable ingredient for the tour squad bowling attack, especially with the talismanic Glenn McGrath unavailable.
"I believe (MacGill) hasn't had the greatest Pura Cup season, but as we know at Test level he's a proven wicket-taker and he continues to do it game after game," Ponting said today.
"When a lot of people think he mightn't, he puts his hand up and does the business.
"I've got no doubt that the first wicket in Cape Town will spin.
Advertisement:
"It would be hard to look past MacGill. His record in Test cricket is outstanding anyway."
Ponting said he would be speaking with touring selector Andrew Hilditch about the Test squad.
"I'll be interested to hear what he (Hilditch) has heard back at home, as far as some of the bowlers are concerned," Ponting added.
"A lot of our experience comes from our spinners.
"If we happen to play two spinners there is a lot of experience in our attack. With (paceman) Brett (Lee) having played a fair bit of cricket as well, whichever way they decide to go with the faster bowlers, we'll have enough experience there."
Ponting's comments may also open the door for young South Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait, 23, who made his Test debut on last year's Ashes tour and is vying for a Test berth with experienced teammate Jason Gillespie and Queensland's Michael Kasprowicz.
Lee, who took 4-48 today against South Africa, said Australia was well-stocked for pace options in the absence of McGrath, who is unavailable because of his wife Jane's cancer battle.
"Whichever way they go I'm sure they are going to make the right call, whether it be someone like Jason, Kasper or some young blood like a Shaun Tait,'' Lee said.
Lee said it was great to be leading the Australia attack but he would prefer to have McGrath by his side.
"You definitely miss a guy like Glenn down that other end, but in saying that the guys I have been bowling with have been outstanding - Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark," he said.
"Shane Watson, I've been really happy the way that he has bowled the last two or three matches."
While opening batsman Phil Jaques and Blues teammate Michael Clarke could be duelling for a back-up batsman's role in the Test squad, the X-factor is whether selectors will choose two all rounders.
Andrew Symonds has taken fellow Queensland all rounder Watson's spot in the Test side since Watson injured his shoulder in November, but now it's Symonds who has missed the first three limited-overs games with a hip flexor strain.
All rounder Watson, with 2-46 and 27 runs, was a rare bright spot for the world champions in the crushing defeat by 196 runs on Friday and backed up with 2-49 today.
Symonds, with eight wickets in his seven Tests and a batting average of 16.81, is tipped to stay in the eleven for the time being, based partly on Australia's willingness to field two spinners.
No doubt Symonds is keen to get back on the park for Friday's fourth match in Durban and Ponting says a return is on the cards.
"He was very close to being right today," Ponting said.
"It's going to be a tough selection which every way they go with the Test squad, if they decide to keep two all rounders on or decide to keep one." Australia</B> (possible): Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (captain), Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Shaun Tait, Phil Jaques/Michael Clarke, Shane Watson/Jason Gillespie.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18363984-23210,00.html
Looks like Macgill is going.
