India-Australia by Stephen Brown-www.cricketfundas.com

Test conundrums

With weeks away from the first test, talk has begun about the make up of the Australian first test team for the test against India. Injuries and outstanding form by the Australian one day team is presenting selectors with many selection headaches.

The biggest headache is the Australian injury toll; Brett Lee recovering from torn stomach muscles and ankle surgery, Glen Mcgrath ankle surgery and Darren Lehman who is wearing a rather large moon boot is recovering from chronic problems with his Achilles tendon. On a positive note Jason Gillespie seems to have fully recovered taking a 7 wicket haul against New South Wales last weekend. Sadly Lehman will miss the first 2 tests whilst Lee and Mcgrath are still recovering and without match practice seem certain to miss the first two tests. The most likely replacements are Brad Williams and Nathan Brakken who performed so well in the TVs cup series between New Zealand India and Australia, both took over 10 wickets each in the series. The last position that of Darren Lehman is likely to be taken by Simon Katich who scored 50 and took 6 wickets with his left arm wrist spin against Zimbabwe in the last test against Zimbabwe. Other candidates are Martin Love who scored 300 not out against Victoria and Michael Clarke who played a starring role in the TVs cup series.

The team will most likely look like this; Hayden, Langer, Pointing, Martyn, Waugh, Katich, Gilchrist, Bichel, Gillespie, Macgill and Brakken with Williams the likely 12th man. India will play 2 warm up games before the first test a 3 day game against Victoria and a Queens land select team, before a test on the Gabba wicket which will provide much for speedsters on both sides and rewards line and length bowling.

Groovyguru2002