|
|
|
| January 1, 2003 | Wednesday | Shawwal 27, 1423 |
No place for Steve Waugh but Warne included
SYDNEY, Dec 31: Test captain Steve Waugh has been left out of the Australian team for next year’s limited-overs World Cup while injured leg-spinner Shane Warne has been told he can miss the first half of the tournament to save himself for the final matches.
Waugh, who led Australia to victory in the last World Cup in 1999 and also played in the side that won the 1987 World Cup, was the only notable omission from the 15-man squad announced on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old was dropped in February after 325 appearances and despite attempts to reinvent himself as an all-rounder, he failed to convince the selectors to give him another chance.
Warne, on the other hand, is considered so important to Australia’s hopes of retaining their title that coach John Buchanan said he could sit out the entire pool phase while he recovers from a shoulder dislocation.
“We’re going to try to make sure he gets every opportunity to be on that plane across to South Africa,” Buchanan told reporters.
There were no other real surprises in the final squad with the 12 players who represented Australia in the first two one-dayers against England in a triangular series that includes Sri Lanka this month all included.
As expected, Ricky Ponting was named captain with wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist chosen as his deputy.
Queensland opener Jimmy Maher was chosen as the extra batsman while left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg was picked as the second spinner and Andrew Symonds selected as the extra all-rounder.
Australia’s chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement the squad had been picked on recent form.
“The 12 players who represented Australia in the first two (one-day) series matches of the season have been players we have backed for some time so it was always reasonable to expect us to go with those players again here given our good form in one-day cricket over the past year,” he said.
“Jimmy Maher has been the extra batsman in the squad since the tour of South Africa earlier this year and he deserves his chance after doing well there and also performing well in one-day cricket again this season.
“Brad Hogg replaced Shane Warne in the series match in Perth and given his performance there, on top of his excellent one-day form of the past few seasons, he deserves his spot as a back-up to Shane.
“Andrew Symonds offers us variety and match-winning potential. His fielding alone makes him stand out from the crowd and there is also the option he gives us with the ball as he can bowl medium pace or off-spin.
“As a batsman he can score at a rapid rate and has the ability to change the course of a game. He is a player we feel is ready to offer us a consistent all-round package.”
Hohns said Warne was selected despite dislocating his bowling shoulder earlier this month. Under the competition regulations, he can be replaced if he fails to recover in time.
“Shane Warne has been selected on the basis that he will be fit for the tournament, but if that is not the case we will obviously review that situation,” Hohns said.
The Australians will depart for the World Cup in southern Africa on 30 Jan. They will open their defence against Pakistan in Johannesburg on 11 Feb.—Reuters
|
|
|
|
