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Symonds in contention for Test team

SirShire

First Grade
Messages
5,412
Symonds in contention for Test team

AAP

February 9, 2004



Andrew Symonds is under consideration as Australia's first genuine Test allrounder in a decade partly due to his bowling repertoire.

Not since Steve Waugh finished his days as a regular change seamer in 1994 have the Aussies boasted a viable allrounder, but Symonds's bowling versatility and the dusty, dry wickets of Sri Lanka have him on the brink of selection. Trevor Hohns, the chief selector, today admitted he was in the running for next month's three-Test series in Sri Lanka.

"While they're both different games he's in outstanding form at the moment," Hohns, whose four-man panel will select a 15-man squad on February 20, said today. "He's a very entertaining player and certainly will come into contention for the Test match part of the tour."

Although his powerful hitting highlighted his worth this summer, Symonds's selection loomed due to his ability to bowl offspin and medium pace. His Test aspirations were strengthened not only by his remarkable limited-overs turnaround, boasting 1071 runs at 48.68 since his surprise selection for the 2003 World Cup, but also the likely return of Shane Warne.

The biggest call of the Sri Lankan series will not be whether Warne tours, but whether he plays in the first Test with Stuart MacGill. If both legspinners play, and a batsman is not dropped to make way, Australia will take only two fast bowlers into the important series opener in Galle, on March 8. For that reason, Symonds is a strong candidate as a first-change bowling option and a spinner who turns the ball in the opposite direction to Warne and MacGill.

Terry Oliver, Queensland's coach, said that Symonds's selection was important for Australia's balance on wickets prone to spin. "If they were looking for versatility over there in Sri Lanka they'd be mad not to pick Andrew. He's the best fielder in the country, with Ponting, is in sensational form with the bat, gives you good spin and seam bowling options and he has the ability to swing the ball Irish [reverse-swing] as well. I think it would be the right move. If he can get in there and establish himself in Sri Lanka, you've got the India tour at the end of the year - that's the one frontier Australia hasn't conquered "

Symonds, who could bat at No. 6 or No. 7, allowing Adam Gilchrist a possible move up the order, would have the added advantage of being road-tested against Muttiah Muralitharan in the one-day series, starting next week.

"He'll be used to the surface and the bowlers and that will count in his favour," Oliver said.

Asked previously about Test aspirations, Symonds had said he hoped for an opportunity to show he could succeed at the top level.

"I just want the one chance to prove it."
 

simon says

First Grade
Messages
5,124
I posted this a week ago and got shouted down. :lol: :lol:

I think he is an excellent player and would enhance our test team,especially in the sub-continent.
 

The Colonel

Immortal
Messages
41,917
Just Trevor Hohns being Trevor Hohns - obviously not enough Queenslanders in contention now Bichel has been dropped. :roll: Realistically if they are worried about only playing two fast bowlers and two spinners move Gilchrist to 6. Lehmann, Katich, Clarke and Martyn can bowl the overs a "change bowler" on the sub-continent would.
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
152,459
I'm for it if he replaces Martyn.

His last few innings has convinced me that he may be an asset to our test team.
 

Rustay

Juniors
Messages
1,259
I certainly wouldnt complain if he was in the test side. I think there are players ahead of him, but he would do a great job. He would certainly improve the fielding that was below par in the tests.

Symonds = 8)
 
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