CAIRNS (Australia), July 31: Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has pulled out of the one-day series against Bangladesh starting this week because of an ankle injury which may require surgery.
“I’m naturally disappointed at having to pull out of the series,” McGrath said in a statement on Thursday.
“However, knowing that we have a few months ahead of us that are clear of cricket commitments, I can use that period to get on top of the injury.
“It is an injury that I have managed for most of my international career, but during the recent Test in Cairns it just seemed to flare up.
“It’s probably the best I have bowled since the World Cup, so it’s disappointing that this has happened now.”
McGrath took five for 124 as Australia claimed innings victories in both matches of the Test series against Bangladesh this month. The 33-year-old took just one wicket in the second Test which ended on Monday in Cairns in north Queensland.
Australia’s second-leading wicket-taker behind leg-spinner Shane Warne, McGrath is returning to Sydney to seek medical advice on possible surgery, which could leave him on the sidelines for up to five weeks.
“It’s his left ankle and the pain has increased over the last few days,” team physiotherapist Errol Alcott told reporters.
“It was particularly uncomfortable in the last two days of the (second) Test. There’s a window now of two months so we thought we’d send him home to an ankle specialist and see what happens from there.”
After Bangladesh, Australia host a two-Test series against Zimbabwe in October.
Alcott said McGrath had floating bone in the ankle joint from a high school basketball injury and taped the joint for matches.
Cricket Australia said Western Australia’s Brad Williams, who has won six One-day International caps, would replace McGrath in the squad for the three-match series.
“I am thrilled that the selectors have seen fit to pick me,” said Williams.
The first two games of the one-day series against Bangladesh are in Cairns on Saturday and Sunday with the final match being played in the Northern Territory capital of Darwin on Wednesday.
Meanwshile, Khaled Mashud smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 43 balls to steer Bangladesh to a four-wicket win over the Queensland Academy of Sport in a one-day match in Innisfail on Thursday.
Alok Kopali chipped in with 36 and in-form opener Hannan Sarkar stroked 35 as the Bangladeshis reached their victory target of 176 with almost eight overs to spare.
The Queensland Academy were restricted to 175-7 after Hasibul Hossain (3-39) destroyed the top-order.
Craig Philipson (67) and Chris Hartley (41 not out) helped rebuild the innings but the locals failed to post a big enough total to seriously threaten the tourists.
ZIMBABWE COACH
PERTH: Zimbabwe cricket coach Geoff Marsh will play against his own team when they launch their Australian tour with a one-day carnival match near here early October.
Marsh, a former Australia Test opener, vice-captain and coach, said on Thursday he had accepted an invitation to play for a Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI against the tourists in a tour opening one-day clash on Oct 1.
The 50-overs game is staged at Lilac Hill Park, just outside Perth, on the banks of the Swan River, in Western Australia’s oldest grape-growing district, drawing a crowd of about 10,000.
It will be the first time a member of a visiting team has played for the Chairman’s XI.
“It’s a great honor to be asked to play in this match,” said Marsh, a Western Australian who is here on holiday before returning to Zimbabwe to prepare his side for the tough Australian tour. “I am looking forward to it.”
Marsh played in 50 Tests for his country, making 2,854 runs at an average of 33.18, with four centuries.
He also played in 117 One-day Internationals, hitting 4,357 runs (average 39.97), with nine centuries.
He coached Australia to their World Cup one-day victory in England in 1999.
Marsh said in the festival match he would be playing alongside his 20-year-old son Shaun, a batsman who is making a mark in the Western Australian Sheffield Shield side.
Many experts have tipped a Test future for the talented left-hander.—AFP