Ashes Update: Marcus North, Xavier Doherty, Doug Bollinger out of Australia squad for third Test
Stunned by the crushing defeat in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, the Australian selectors have rung in changes for the third Test match at the WACA in Perth, where the two teams lock horns in what is very much a do-or-die
match for the hosts.
A defeat here would mean the end of the Ashes campaign for Ricky Ponting’s men, as even victories in the last two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney would not be enough for them to regain the little urn, as England is the defending
champion and a drawn series is good enough for them to retain the greatest prize in Test cricket.
The national selection committee has drafted in relatively unknown spinner Michael Beer in place of Xavier Doherty, who played the first two Test matches yet succeeded in claiming only 3 wickets.
Beer, on the other hand, is a promising youngster and the selectors feel that his experience of bowling in Perth for the Western Australian team is going to hold him in good stead once the Test begins.
"Michael Beer replaces Xavier Doherty in the squad. Michael is a left-arm orthodox spinner who has been very impressive at domestic level this year. He took wickets against England in the tour match earlier this summer and we expect
he will bowl very well against the English on his home ground,” said Andrew Hilditch, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s Chairman of Selectors.
The other change made is the inclusion of another spin contender Steven Smith in the squad in place of the out-of-form left-handed batsman Marcus North.
North has had a lean run in Test cricket this year and despite a fighting hundred during the Test series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 has been omitted; the reason is his poor run in the Ashes where he failed to reach 30 even once in three innings.
“Steve Smith replaces Marcus North in the 12-man squad," Hilditch said. "This is obviously disappointing for Marcus who has played some outstanding Test innings for Australia but it was felt to be the right time to bring the exciting
prospect Steve Smith into the Test team. Steve has already had success at international level and will also add to the bowling depth with his leg-spin bowling and dynamic fielding.”
Other than Smith, the selectors have recalled both Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson for the Perth Test. The duo was left out of the Adelaide match after an unimpressive showing at the Gabba where the hosts conceded a staggering
517/1 in the second innings.
Andrew Hilditch believes that the call-up of the pace bowling duo would give Australian captain Ricky Ponting some options if the wicket is as quick as it is expected to be.
"Doug Bollinger has been omitted from the squad. Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did not play in Adelaide but will be strongly considered for selection in the Perth Test match where conditions will suit
them. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were the pick of our quicks at Adelaide Oval and these four make up the pace attack for the Perth Test match.”
The batsmen will also have to get their act together and perform as a unit if they are to stop the English juggernaut from regaining the Ashes at Perth. The hosts have an impressive record at the venue and in
their current form they need all the luck in the world if they are to turn the tables on Andrew Strauss’s men.
Squad: Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949, Ben Hilfenhaus.
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