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SYDNEY, Feb 6: Following are the pen-sketches of Australia World Cup squad:
RICKY PONTING
Born: Dec 19 1974. Captain. Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v South Africa, Wellington, Feb 1995. 157 matches, 5,580 runs av 41.33. 3 wickets at 34.66. Dashing player and brilliant fieldsman who took over the one-day side from Steve Waugh last year and is now being groomed for the Test captaincy. Ponting made his first-class debut at 17 and scored 96 in his first Test against Sri Lanka three years later. He made his one-day debut in the same season. Started batting at number six but has since moved up to three where he can can quickly dominate any attack. His career was briefly stalled by two nightclub incidents in 1998 and 1999.
ADAM GILCHRIST
Born: Nov 14 1971. Vice-captain. Left-handed batsman, wicket-keeper. ODI debut: v South Africa, Faridabad (India), Oct 1996. 152 matches, 4,817 runs av 34.16. 212 catches, 37 stumpings. An explosive player who opens the batting with such effect that his Test captain Steve Waugh believes he could be the first player to score a double century in One-day Internationals. The regular Test and one-day vice-captain, Gilchrist has also captained Australia in both forms of the game. A free-scoring batsmen who goes in at seven in Tests and opens in one-dayers, Gilchrist boasts the second highest score by an Australian in a One-day International (154), the second-fastest century by an Australian in Tests and the second fastest double century by any player in the Test arena.
MICHAEL BEVAN
Born: May 8 1970. Left-handed batsman, left-arm unorthodox spin bowler. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, April 1994. 196 matches. 6,028 runs av 54.80. 36 wickets at 45.97. Generally regarded as the world’s best one-day batsman, a left-hander of lightning speed between the wickets with an uncanny ability to find gaps in the field. One of the most effective one-day players in history, Bevan has become a limited overs specialist after he was dropped from the Test team five years ago. His one-day average is the highest by any player who has played a minimum of 20 matches.
ANDY BICHEL
Born: Aug 27 1970. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. ODI debut: v West Indies, Brisbane, Jan 1997. 38 matches, 230 runs av 15.33, 44 wickets at 33.59. Tough, determined character whose stock ball is the out-swinger. A late developer, Bichel made his Test and One-day International debuts at 26 and has been restricted in the number of appearances because of the depth in Australian fast bowling ranks.
JASON GILLESPIE
Born: April 19 1975. Right-arm fast bowler. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, Aug 1996. 46 matches. 160 runs av 10.00, 71 wickets aT 25.80. An elastic, athletic fast bowler who generates genuine pace from a modest run-up and can move the ball disconcertingly. Fearsome opening bowler whose career has been repeatedly stalled by injuries, most spectacularly when he collided with Steve Waugh in 1999 and broke his leg. Took career-best figures of 5-22 against Pakistan in Nairobi last year.
IAN HARVEY
Born: April 10 1972. Right-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. ODI debut: v South Africa, Sydney, Dec 1997. 43 matches. 429 runs av 17.87, 47 wickets at 34.59. Reliable all-rounder who was called into the squad at the last moment when Shane Watson pulled out with injury. A deceptive medium-pace bowler with an uncanny knack of getting vital wickets.
MATTHEW HAYDEN
Born: Oct 29 1971. Left-handed opening batsman. ODI debut: v England, Old Trafford, May 1993. 54 matches. 1,958 runs av 45.53. Currently the world’s leading batsman who can dominate any attack from the opening ball with his blend of strength, aggression and confidence. Hayden has established himself as the form opening batsman in the world after being given a third chance to prove himself at international level. He was dropped in 1994 and again in 1997 but has made it third time lucky, cementing his place in both the Test and one-day sides.
BRAD HOGG
Born: Feb 2 1971. ODI debut: v Zimbabwe, Colombo, Aug 1996. 15 matches. 127 runs av 31.75, 15 wickets at 37.26.Left-arm unorthodox spin bowler, left-hand batsman. After starting off a specialist batsman, Hogg has developed into an aggressive wrist-spinner, a type rarely used in one-day cricket. A surprise choice for the World Cup squad.
BRETT LEE
Born: Nov 8 1976. Right-arm fast bowler. Handy right-handed batsman ODI debut: v Pakistan, Brisbane, Jan 2000. 55 matches. 272 runs av 16.00, 100 wickets at 22.48. Consistently the world’s fastest bowler, who rivals for sheer speed with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar and now a match-winner in one-day cricket as he proved in the recent triangular series one-day finals against England. Younger brother of former limited-overs international Shane, Brett has been carefully groomed as Australia’s latest lethal weapon. He captured five wickets in an innings on his Test debut during the 1999-2000 season, including one in his first over.
DARREN LEHMANN
Born: Feb 5 1970. Left-handed batsman, useful left-arm slow orthodox spinner. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, Aug 1996. 85 matches. 2,285 runs av 37.45, 27 wickets at 31.40. Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer in domestic first-class cricket. A stockily-built left-hander who bats in the middle order, Lehmann hit the winning runs in the 1999 World Cup final against Pakistan. Captained Australia in a one-dayer against Sri Lanka in December, celebrating the achievement by scoring a century. Suspended for five matches for breaching the sport’s strict rules on racial abuse after making offensive remarks during a match with Sri Lanka. Will miss Australia’s opening World Cup match with Pakistan.
JIMMY MAHER
Born: Feb 27 1974. Left-handed batsman. ODI debut: v New Zealand, Sydney, January 1998. 19 matches. 343 runs av 31.18. Opens the batting for his state Queensland but bats down the order for the national team. An excellent slips fielder.
DAMIEN MARTYN
Born: Oct 21 1971. Right-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. ODI debut: v West Indies, Sydney, Dec 1992. 113 matches. 2,609 runs av 40.13. 12 wickets av 56.91. Another batsman making the most of his recall to the side after several years out of the team. Martyn made his Test debut and one-day debuts at age 21 but lost his place within 14 months. He got another chance in 1998 and has not looked back since.
GLENN McGRATH
Born: Feb 9 1970. Right-arm fast bowler. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Melbourne, December 1993. 168 matches. 88 runs av 3.82, 256 wickets at 22.85. Combines pace with remarkable control and a relentlessly competitive approach which have made him one of the best strike bowlers in history. The spearhead of Australia’s bowling attack, McGrath is the most prolific fast bowler Australia has produced. The lanky McGrath is not the quickest bowler in the game but his unerring accuracy makes him one of the most dangerous bowlers around. Helped Australia on the road to recovery at the last World Cup when he spectacularly destroyed the Indian and West Indian top orders.
ANDREW SYMONDS
Born: June 9 1975. Right-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace or off-spinner. ODI debut: v Pakistan, Lahore, Nov 1998. 54 matches. 762 runs av 23.81, 44 wickets at 32.13. Born in England but raised in Australia. Was offered the chance to play for England A but turned it down to try his luck and make the Australian team. A handy dual-pace bowler and dynamic fieldsman, Symonds is better known as a massive hitter of the ball after hitting a world record 20 sixes, including 16 in one innings, while playing for Gloucestershire in 1995.
SHANE WARNE
Born: Sept 13 1969. Right-arm leg-spin bowler, right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v New Zealand, Wellington, March 1993. 193 matches. 1,016 runs av 13.02. 291 wickets at 25.82. One of Wisden’s five greatest players of the 20th century, Warne ranks as the best leg-spinner the game has produced and has been credited with saving the art of spin bowling at a time when pace was taking over. Warne is Australia’s greatest wicket-taker in Tests and one-dayers. Man-of-the-Match in Australia’s 1999 World Cup final win. Has also attracted his fair share of controversy, notably when he was fined for accepting money from an Indian bookmaker in 1994. He announced in January he will retire from one-dayers after the World Cup.—Reuters
