Depleted Sri Lanka face uphill task to upset heavyweights India

Both teams are missing big players, but India’s strength in depth makes them heavy favourites

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Feb-20222:59

Wasim Jaffer: Expect Sri Lanka spinners to cause India problems

Big picture

Look, let’s be real. It’s been a while since Sri Lanka were on India’s level in limited-overs cricket.In the last T20I series between these teams, Sri Lanka did pull out two victories to claim the trophy in Colombo, but both those wins came after no fewer than seven players of an already weakened India (the Test squad was playing on a different continent) were made unavailable by a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad, and India had to resort to putting net bowlers in their XI.But even with those two wins, India have won 11 of the last 14 completed T20Is between these teams. In India, the stats are even bleaker for Sri Lanka – two wins from ten completed matches, one of which came all the way back in 2009 (three whole lifetimes, in T20 years). For all the buzz about this improving Sri Lanka side, they’ve lost seven of their ten T20Is since the start of the main draw of last year’s T20 World Cup.Related

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Both teams are missing big players. Virat Kohli is rested, as is Rishabh Pant, and now Deepak Chahar and Suryakumar Yadav have picked up injuries as well. But because Sri Lanka don’t have as much depth, their big injuries seem more consequential. Wanindu Hasaranga – their best player – has not even made the trip, thanks to Covid. Beyond this, the Player of the Match from their last T20 in Australia – Kusal Mendis – and their most consistent powerplay bowler from the last year – Maheesh Theekshana – are also in serious doubt for this game, having sustained injuries themselves.In their last T20I series, India had comfortably beaten West Indies in all three matches, though in that series, they’d had the likes of Suryakumar, Kohli, and Pant play important innings. If Sri Lanka want to upset their hosts though, they will have to raise their game substantially. The top order, which will be without Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Avishka Fernando (Perera and Fernando are injured) will have to be more effective than it had been in Australia. And minus Hasaranga, and probably Theekshana, the likes of legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama will have to step up as well.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WLLLLIndia WWWWWMohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Avesh Khan tune up for the T20I series against Sri Lanka•Associated Press

In the spotlight

Legpsinners generally do well against Sri Lanka. As he has a strike rate of 10.8 against them, Yuzvendra Chahal probably knows this. In his most recent T20I against them, Chahal took only one wicket, but then went for just 19 runs in his four overs. He is, however, coming off a modest series against West Indies, where he went at more than eight an over. Sri Lanka’s shaky middle order might be the perfect opposition to bounce back against.In a little over a year at the top level, 23-year-old Pathum Nissanka has not merely established himself, his performances have suggested he is an all-format player for a decade to come. He’s not the first one to trod this path, though. Others have showed similar promise at this stage of their careers, and faltered into middling, modest, and troubled careers. A tour of India is a huge test for a young batter. He at least has the confidence of having topped the run charts in Australia (where he hit 184 T20I runs in five innings) going into this.

Pitch and conditions

Rain is not forecast to interrupt the match, but as winter is still around, the temperature may drop in the evening, and dew may form. In the T20Is it has hosted, the pitch at Lucknow has generally made for middling scores.

Team news

Minus Suryakumar, the likes of Deepak Hooda could get a spot in the XI while Venkatesh Iyer would have to shoulder more responsibility with the bat. Rohit Sharma may bat down at No. 4 to allow Ruturaj Gaikwad to open, as he had done in the most recent match, against West Indies.India (possible): 1 Ishan Kishan, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Sanju Samson (wk), 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Shreyas Iyer, 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit BumrahDinesh Chandimal will likely return to the XI and take the gloves if Mendis is unavailable. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama are likely to be the two lead spinners if Theekshana does not play.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Janith Liyanage, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Praveen Jayawickrama

Stats and trivia

  • Although Nissanka was Sri Lanka’s most prolific batter in Australia, his strike rate in that series was 116. In his 43-innings T20 career so far, he has struck at 122.
  • Chahal’s 15 wickets against Sri Lanka (at an average of 16.06) is his best against any opposition, though he has played England and New Zealand more often.
  • The last time India lost to Sri Lanka at home was back in 2016, in Pune.

    Quotes

    “Even though the spinners we might field tomorrow don’t have a lot of experience, players like Jeffrey Vandersay and Praveen Jayawickrama have a lot of talent.”Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka on the spin options likely available to him on Thursday.

Geoffrey Boycott puts memorabilia on sale, including 100th hundred bat

130 lots up for sale after Boycott celebrates 80th birthday

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2020Sir Geoffrey Boycott has put his personal collection of cricket memorabilia up for auction, including the bat with which he scored his 100th first-class hundred, against Australia at Headingley in 1977, and a stump from England’s famous Ashes victory at Headingley in 1981.The 130 lots went on sale on Tuesday, with bidding due to close on November 16. Christie’s, the auctioneers, described it as “one of the last great collections of cricketing memorabilia left in private hands … chronicling the career of the Yorkshire and England legend.”It is unclear quite why Boycott has decided to part with his memorabilia now, although he turned 80 earlier this week, and having missed this summer’s international coverage due to the Covid outbreak, he has not had his contract with BBC’s Test Match Special renewed, after 14 years in the role.The auction will open with the sale of an original scorebook from his home debut for Ackworth Cricket Club in Yorkshire as a 13-year old in 1954, which is inscribed with the entry ‘J. Boycott batting at 8 scores 9 not out’.Other lots include a range of caps worn by his international opponents, including Greg Chappell’s Baggy Green and Viv Richards’ maroon West Indies cap – which have a reserve price of £3200 and £4000 respectively – as well as the shirt worn by Michael Holding at Barbados in 1981, when he bowled Boycott for a duck in one of the most fabled overs of all time.In addition to his 100th hundred bat, which could fetch in excess of £30,000, Boycott’s collection includes the bat with which he went past Garry Sobers’ then world-record Test runs total of 8032, at Delhi in 1981, and the one with which he scored his Test-best 246 not out against India at Headingley in 1967 – an innings for which he was then dropped for slow scoring.

Shakib calls for clear communication and rotation policy

Bangladesh allrounder wants team management and board to be in sync with cricketing decisions

Mohammad Isam01-Aug-2019Shakib Al Hasan thinks it’s time for Bangladesh to adopt a rotation policy to ensure their top cricketers remain fit and refreshed. He wants the players, coaching staff and the BCB to be on the same page should such a policy come into effect.”When these breaks are in place, you can give more opportunity to players and you will have players in the pipeline as well,” Shakib said. “So we have to plan by looking at the bigger picture. I am just talking about part of it, but we will definitely discuss this in more details.”I will give you an example from India. Their players had the least injuries in their history last year. One of the main reason was their rotation policy. It helped them build many players who got exposure. At the same time, their players were fresh when they came to the side. Everyone, including Virat Kohli, got rested for one of the formats.”Shakib, who was granted a break by the BCB for the short ODI series in Sri Lanka, also wants the players to come forward and tell the team management that they are not fit enough. He also called for the coaching staff, including the physio and trainer, to gauge when a player is not fit to play a match or series.Bangladesh got through their World Cup campaign with several injured players including captain Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mustafizur Rahman and Mosaddek Hossain.The BCB, however, had named all of them in the initial 14-man squad for the recently concluded Sri Lanka series which the visitors lost three-zip. Changes were made when Mashrafe aggravated his hamstring injury during a training camp while Saifuddin’s back problem persisted, and both had to be replaced on the eve of their departure to Colombo.Batting and bowling weren’t up to the mark in the three-match series but Bangladesh’s lackluster performance was as much down to poor body language and several fielding errors. It suggested that many of the players were tired after a long World Cup and since performance and fitness are so closely connected, Shakib said that breaks are imperative.”A player can’t play all the time, they need to take breaks. The responsibility falls on both sides. It is also the responsibility to understand. A player is saying that I need or a break, or the coaching staff is telling a player, you need a break. So both sides must understand.”Before the Sri Lanka-bound squad was named, there was a strong case for the BCB to give few players a break to allow them to regain fitness and form. Shakib said that giving established players breaks would also mean that there would be opportunities to test fringe players.But he also stressed that to avoid controversy, the communication should be clear between the players, coaches and the cricket board. “If we are to do this, we must have very good coordination between coaching staff, board and players,” he said. “Otherwise there will be criticism if the right message is not sent.”Shakib, however, remained hopeful things can turn around in Bangladesh cricket if a long-term plan is put in place.”I am sure the BCB are planning for the next three or four years. We have already appointed two coaches, and once all of them get together, the BCB can put forth their strategy. If we can work together, I think our cricket can go forward like it did in the last four years.”

Jos Buttler's hasty call-up to captain a useful World Cup exercise

England’s one-day vice-captain didn’t have much warning he would have to take the lead in Cardiff, but responded with a key innings and a calm display in the field

Andrew McGlashan17-Jun-2018With thoughts turning towards next year’s World Cup, Eoin Morgan’s last-minute back spasm which ruled him out of the match in Cardiff provided a useful experience for England in a scenario that could play out during the tournament.This is not to wish injury on anyone, but they can occur at any moment and disrupt the best-laid plans. At Sophia Gardens, Jos Buttler had about 20 minutes warning that he would lead England when Morgan was ruled out. The end result was a consummate performance from England, in which Buttler made 90 off 71 balls before marshalling the defence in the field when Australia threatened to run the game close thanks to Shaun Marsh.England are a well drilled and very confident one-day side, so it should come as no shock that the loss of Morgan didn’t derail them. The second match of a five-match series, when the team is leading 1-0, is not as crucial a situation as could play out at the World Cup, but the smooth handover to Buttler reinforced the stability in the team.It was the fourth ODI Buttler had captained following the series in Bangladesh where he stood in for Morgan after he had withdrawn from the tour over security concerns.”I enjoyed it, a bit more stressful going through lots of decision, the buck stops with you,” Buttler said. “As vice-captain you can suggest a few, and hide behind that, but it’s the captain’s decision. It’s enjoyable. It’s a very good side to captain. At times the side captains itself, with defined roles for the players and a lot of experience in the group, so the guys know what they’re doing.”The late change in captaincy meant it was the first time ever an England-Australia international had seen two glovemen in charge. “Lots of captains have been wicketkeepers as well. You’ve got a pretty good position to see what’s happening and what’s going on, so I don’t think it’s a problem,” Buttler said.As Buttler suggested, he did not reinvent the wheel in the field but he was alert to various situations. He hustled through overs from Moeen Ali and Joe Root, but whipped Adil Rashid out of the attack after four expensive overs – although they included the wicket of Aaron Finch – and then brought him back in the final 10 overs when an extra fielder is allowed out.Rashid responded with a googly to defeat Ashton Agar, just as his stand with Marsh was making England sweat, again showing the value of a legspinner at the death. Alongside another impactful performance from Liam Plunkett – whose brace of wickets in the 46th over finally snuffed out the chase – it ended up being reasonably comfortable for England.”Adil came back really well, I asked a lot of him to bowl in the last 10 overs,” Buttler said. “It’s never easy. He and Liam have been fantastic wicket-takers for us throughout the last few years, so those two guys always seem to have that knack of picking up crucial wickets, so it’s great to have them in your armoury.”It seems like a tough ground to defend, with the wind and the short boundaries. [Shaun Marsh] was playing very well. With our fielding we could have been a bit sharper, we missed a few fumbles. I thought we had enough, but you’re never quite sure.”Such are the expectations around this England one-day side, that their total of 343 – a record against Australia – felt a little below what it could have been but it helped put to rights the indifferent chase at The Oval which began the series. The series can be wrapped up a Trent Bridge and already there is talk of the whitewash.”We’re putting in good performances. It’s very important for us to continue to show why we got ourselves to No. 1 in the world,” Buttler said. “There’s a World Cup around the corner, so we need to keep polishing up in those areas we can improve. A by-product of that is winning the series in comprehensive fashion. But we’ve got to keep going game by game and not get ahead of ourselves or get complacent.”

Pattinson's pace spices up Nottinghamshire attack

Nottinghamshire have signed the Australia fast bowler James Pattinson for the first half of the English season

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2017Nottinghamshire have signed the Australia fast bowler James Pattinson for the first half of the English season.Pattinson, 26, will be available for both four-day and 50-over cricket until the end of June and replaces fellow Australian Peter Siddle who was forced to withdraw from his deal with a back injury.Pattinson recently asked not to be considered for a call-up to the tour of India following a series of comebacks which have resulted in further lay-offs with back problems. He is currently completing the Sheffield Shield season with Victoria.”James has the ability to swing the ball, he hits good lengths and he does it all at a good speed,” Peter Moores, the Nottinghamshire coach, said. “Pace creates opportunities, so he gives us a wicket taking option in both championship and 50-over matches. We’ve seen that from him when he’s played international cricket.”That ability to open up sides on flat pitches is what we’re really looking at. That’s the kind of thing that wins you games.”Pattinson could form a formidable new-ball attack with Stuart Broad who is currently not part of England’s one-day plans and therefore not set to play international cricket again until the Test series against South Africa in July.

'We are always a top contender in the shorter formats' – MS Dhoni

There is still a month to go till the World Twenty20, but no side other than India can claim to know their first XI so much in advance, with MS Dhoni well aware of his team’s main strengths and shortcomings

Sidharth Monga14-Feb-2016There is still a month to go till the World Twenty20, but no side other than India can claim to know their first XI so much in advance. In the team that beat Sri Lanka 2-1, thus retaining its No. 1 ranking in T20Is, there will only be one change made – Virat Kohli replacing Ajinkya Rahane – barring an extraordinary pitch or an opposition full of left-hand batsmen, but MS Dhoni also knows the fickle nature of the T20 format. He knows his side will be difficult to beat, but he also knows his side can be beaten. Two of the areas that can derail India’s campaign are a big hitter in the opposition and India’s somewhat suspect lower middle order, which can struggle to play the big shots from ball one.”We are always a top contender when it comes to shorter formats,” Dhoni said after India beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Visakhapatnam. “Also with the World Cup to be held in India we know the spinners will come into action. It gives us the added benefit. Also the exposure of having played the IPL over here. Out of the eight seasons we have played seven seasons in India. We have got a lot of players, especially ones who are the part of the team, who have got very good experience of playing in India.”All of that will definitely count, but what the shortest format really does is, it narrows down the difference between the two teams. What you have to do is keep the [opposition’s] big hitters out of the game. Also the knockout games, you have to be at your best. Once the knockout stage starts it is more like lottery cricket. To be consistent is something that is very important.”Asked if any aspect of his side was untested, Dhoni spoke of the lower middle order. “Everybody has not got a chance to bat, but we will keep facing this problem,” Dhoni said. “Because also our batting line-up is quite deep. We will try to give batting to a few of the players who haven’t batted so far. But usually people who are batting close to 6, 7 and 8, will have to develop more of going in and straightaway play the big shot. That’s something that will certainly be very important for us. It is not about how many runs you score at that point of time. You may be facing just three or four or five deliveries. If you can get 10 or 12 runs, that will be of real benefit.”But overall, other than that everybody has got an opportunity to bowl, which is a good thing. I think, in the last three games, everybody has gone for runs a bit. If it is the spinners or the fast bowlers, to an extent. They were under pressure at some point of time, which is a good thing for them. Overall we are looking good, but a bit more batting to the middle order will help.”One of the final ticks is R Ashwin’s performance with the new ball after Dhoni had tended to bowl the six Powerplay overs with his quicks in Australia. Ashwin’s success – he has claimed eight wickets in the two matches that he has taken the new ball against Sri Lanka – takes away that predictability from India’s attack. “Ashwin is the pick of the bowlers when it comes to giving him the new ball, [with seven men] in the circle. He still flights the ball, asks the batsmen to step out and play the big shot. That is crucial in this format. At times you tend to bowl too flat, but he is somebody who mixes it up really well.”He gives us that liberty of using the fast bowlers in the middle overs, especially when you are playing with just two fast bowlers. Gives us the liberty of mixing up the bowlers at different levels. But it’s something we will keep doing throughout the coming games. We will see the conditions and the opposition at the same time, how many left-handers they have, and how many right-handers they have. Also what gives me that option is having Suresh Raina in the mix. You have literally two proper offspinners, especially when it is turning, and you have two left-arm spinners in [Ravindra] Jadeja and Yuvraj Singh in the XI so even if one of them has to bowl upfront it doesn’t really matter because the others can do the job.”

Mubarak, bowlers engineer Ruhuna win

Ruhuna Reds defeated Uthura Yellows by 21 runs in the Super 4’s Twenty20 in Colombo, and ended Uthura’s chances of making it to the final

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-2013
ScorecardA silken 18-ball 36 from Mahela Jayawardene and a half-century from Dinesh Chandimal was not enough to keep Uthura Yellows in the hunt for a final spot, as Ruhuna Reds defended an impressive total to win by 21 runs. No team has yet won batting second in the tournament, and chasing Ruhuna’s 162 for 6 on a wearing pitch was always going to be a difficult task.Uthura, however, were well placed after ten overs at 85 for 1, but Mahela Udawatte’s dismissal for 34 in the 12th triggered a collapse as Uthura lost the remaining eight wickets for just 50 runs. Chandimal fought on with a 40-ball 50 – the highest of the tournament, but none of the other batsmen could manage more than five runs, as Uthura were eventually bowled out for 141.Ruhuna’s batting had no obvious heroes, but four batsmen breached 20 striking at more than a run-a-ball, as they maintained a fine run rate throughout. Tillakaratne Dilshan kick-started the innings by hitting four consecutive fours off Thisara Perera’s first over, and although he was dismissed soon after, Kusal Perera chimed in with three boundaries and a six, on his way to 28. Seekkuge Prasanna then added 26 off just 17 deliveries, as Ruhuna seemed poised for a big total.Uthura’s spinners, spearheaded by Akila Dananjaya, restricted the flow of runs in the middle overs, but there was enough pace around for Ruhuna’s total to keep moving at a lively pace. Jehan Mubarak added a late onslaught with an unbeaten 22-ball 31, and put up 53 for the sixth wicket with Angelo Perera to take Ruhuna to 162 in 20 overs.Jayawardene was in supreme touch in Uthura’s response, with opening partner Mahela Udawatte also finding the boundary with ease, but Jayawardene departed for 36 from 18, nicking a wide delivery to the keeper. Udawatte
and Chandimal built on the quick start, but Udawatte’s demise brought a string of quick wickets for Ruhuna’s pacers, and the chase went quickly astray after the 12th over. Ishan Jayaratne was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 4 for 23.Chandimal had been in poor form in internationals and will take some solace in his personal score, but having lost both matches so far, he and Uthura Yellows will be playing for a little more than just pride when they face off against Basnahira Greens on Wednesday.

Gayle formally recalled to West Indies squad

Chris Gayle’s 15-month international exile is over after he was formally recalled to the West Indies ODI squad for the forthcoming series against England, due to begin at Southampton on June 16

Daniel Brettig04-Jun-2012Chris Gayle’s 15-month international exile is over after he was formally recalled to the West Indies ODI squad for the forthcoming series against England, starting in Southampton on June 16.In keeping with the fractious and drawn out nature of the dispute that kept Gayle out of the team, his recall was confirmed after a meeting of more political than selection nature in St Vincent. Gayle and the West Indies Players’ Association chief executive*, Michael Hall, spoke with an array of political and cricket figures including the island’s prime minister Ralph Gonsalves, Antigua and Barbuda prime minister Baldwin Spencer, WICB president Julian Hunte, WICB director Elson Crick and the WICB’s legal officer Alanna Medford.The meeting, devised to smooth over any “residual matters” between Gayle and the WICB, was followed by the announcement of the squad for the limited-overs segment of the England tour, with Gayle returning to the ranks for the first time since the 2011 World Cup.

West Indies’ ODI squad

Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Dwayne Smith, Andre Russell, Tino Best, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine

“Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board recently met by teleconference and are pleased that consistent with his previous commitment Mr Chris Gayle has made himself available for selection to the West Indies team,” a WICB statement had said of the meeting. “The board believes that Mr Gayle’s stated commitment to West Indies cricket will be an asset to the team and looks forward to his contributions in that regard.”Gayle’s recall was first mooted during West Indies’ earlier home series against Australia, when he met with WICB officials to repair a relationship that had deteriorated around the emergence of Twenty20 and the rise of the Indian Premier League. It then dissolved entirely when the former captain criticised the coach Ottis Gibson and the WICB during a radio interview last year.In England the mood for Gayle’s return has gathered strength, pushed along by the words of Kevin Pietersen, who said it would be “brilliant for the game” if he was recalled, while the former West Indies fast bowler and widely respected commentator Michael Holding effectively challenged the WICB to stop delaying Gayle’s rehabilitation as an international player.Lendl Simmons is the other notable recall to the ODI team after he missed the home matches against Australia. Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell also return to the team for limited-overs matches after completing their IPL duties.*15:44 GMT, June 5: The article had qualified Michael Hall as Chris Gayle’s agent. This has been changed.

All-round Vaas gives Northants tense win

Chaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as the Northamptonshire continued their 100 per cent record in the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a nervy four-wicket win over Scotland

22-May-2011
ScorecardChaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as the Northamptonshire continued their 100 per cent record in the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a nervy four-wicket win over Scotland.Preston Mommsen smashed an unbeaten 81 off 72 balls as the Saltires recovered from an awful start to post 200 for 5 of their 40 overs with Vaas taking 3 for 37.Vaas then made 68 off 88 balls as the Steelbacks reached their target with five deliveries to spare with Matthew Parker claiming figures off three for 41. Scotland won the toss and chose to bat but they soon lost Callum MacLeod for a duck when he blasted Vaas straight to David Willey at point.Josh Davey then also went without scoring when he edged Vaas to David Sales at slip but Fraser Watts managed to make 29 before David Lucas’ delivery clipped his off stump. Richie Berrington then missed an attempted reverse sweep and was pinned lbw by James Middlebrook for 28.It wasn’t until the 27th over that the Saltires reached 100 and the next wicket to fall was that of Luke Butterworth, bowled by Vaas for 20. Mommsen went on to complete his half-century off 54 with a four clattered through extra cover as he tried to push his side towards a competitive total.He and wicketkeeper Gregor Maiden did just that by adding 75 between them with the latter finishing on 32 not out. Chasing 201, Vaas was given an early reprieve when Davey dropped a simple catch at fine leg off Butterworth in the second over.But Stephen Peters perished for just seven when he was trapped lbw by Parker before David Willey (11) launched the same bowler to Gordon Goudie at deep mid-wicket. It was up for grabs when Alex Wakely was caught leg before by Butterworth to leave the Steelbacks reeling on 64 for three and behind the required run rate.Vaas made the most of his earlier good fortune by reaching 50 off 64 balls before finally departing by smashing Scotland captain Gordon Drummond to Mommsen at extra cover. Sales followed in the next over for 40 when he was bowled by Parker before Rob White was run out thanks to a superb throw from long-on by MacLeod.Sixteen runs off the 37th over, bowled by Butterworth, swung the game back in Northamptonshire’s favour and captain Andrew Hall and Middlebrook guided them home with scores of 21 and 31 not out respectively.

Australia wait on Haddin's fitness

Brad Haddin has until the end of next week to prove his fitness for the two Tests against Pakistan after being named in the 14-man squad

Peter English22-Jun-2010Brad Haddin has until the end of next week to prove his fitness for the two Tests against Pakistan after being named in the 14-man squad along with Ben Hilfenhaus and the uncapped batsman Usman Khawaja. Haddin was ruled out of the current limited-overs tour of the British Isles due to a nagging elbow tendon injury, with Tasmania’s Tim Paine replacing him in the outfit which opens the ODI series with England on Tuesday.Wicketkeepers don’t like giving up their positions and Haddin, who played with a badly broken finger in England last year, will attempt to recover in Sydney before the Test specialists leave on July 2. “His availability for these matches will be determined over the next week,” the team physio Alex Kountouris said.Mitchell Johnson will head to England in the next couple of days to link up with the limited-overs squad after overcoming a recurrence of his infected right elbow. The problem first flared during the World Twenty20 but Johnson is now ready to go.”Mitchell has trained strongly over the past four days with no adverse effect,” Kountouris said. “He has been cleared by medical staff to step up his training in preparation for both the Twenty20 and Test series against Pakistan.”Khawaja, the New South Wales left-hander, is in as the reserve batsman after Phillip Hughes needed surgery following a dislocated left shoulder suffered during boxing training in May. After scoring three Sheffield Shield hundreds last season Khawaja, a 23-year-old born in Pakistan, will have a chance to confirm his international promise if there are any vacancies. If he plays he will become Australia’s first Muslim representative.Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said the injury to Hughes was “unfortunate”, but Khawaja would be an able replacement. “He is seen by the panel as being capable of batting anywhere in the order in Test cricket, but importantly for this particular series a top-order batsman who could bat in the top four should the opportunity arise,” Hilditch said. Steven Smith, the batsman-legspinner, is expected to be preferred if any of the other batting spots open up.Hilfenhaus played his first game of the year over the past week, taking 5 for 63 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A, to show his fitness after a long battle with knee tendonitis. He is well suited to English conditions, as he displayed last year, and will use the series to fine tune for the five home Tests against England.”Ben was a critical member of our 2009 Ashes bowling group and it is very pleasing to see him back in the Test squad with the next Ashes series just around the corner,” Hilditch said. The opening match against Pakistan starts at Lord’s on July 13 and the second game is in Leeds from July 21.Australia squad Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus.