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| December 30, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 08, 1427 |
MacGill misses out on final Ashes Test
SYDNEY, Dec 29: Sydney specialist Stuart MacGill will not get his chance to join Shane Warne in next week's final Ashes Test against England after being overlooked by the selectors on Friday.
The selectors showed faith in Australia's bowling attack by naming an unchanged twelve for the fifth and final Test where the Australians are vying for a 5-0 Ashes clean sweep at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
It will be the first time in seven years that leg-spinner MacGill has missed playing in the final Sydney Test. MacGill has taken 53 of his 198 Test wickets at the SCG where he averages 24.47, below his Test bowling average of 27.21.
The selectors were expected to keep the same squad which pulverised the tourists by an innings and 99 runs in the fourth Melbourne Test on Thursday.
Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is again expected to be 12th man in Sydney.
Selectors felt the attack of pacemen Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, leg-spinner Shane Warne and fifth option Andrew Symonds had been instrumental in regaining the Ashes this summer and saw no reason for a change.
The chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the panel had considered drafting MacGill into the squad as a second spinner on a wicket that usually turns, although showers are forecast for the first three days of the match.
The last time MacGill was overlooked for a Test at his home ground was when India played there in the summer of 1999-2000.
Australia's front-line bowlers have all enjoyed good series. Clark has 21 wickets at 16.76, Warne 21 at 28.86, McGrath 15 at 26.47 and Lee 14 at 39.29, having taken six wickets in Melbourne after three lean Tests.
Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson (12th man to be named). —AFP
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