http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Iftikhar-Ali-Khan-Pataudi-Nawab-of-c64075 Howard gives his take on Mitchell Starc’s exclusion – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Aaron-Starc-c76392 from the Boxing Day clash was taken in the best interest of the team, one that ultimately proved beneficial after the side won the bout against Sri Lanka inside three days.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jackson-Munro-Bird-c65187 in the line-up, despite having a fit Starc at their disposal.
The 22-year-old came into the side after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, where he took a decisive five-wicket haul to guide his side to a thrilling victory.
However, with Hilfenhaus injuring himself during that game, it forced the Aussie management to rest Starc from the Boxing Day encounter in order to have him at his peak for the final clash at Sydney. That news however, did not go down well with the pacer, who termed the omission as shattering, further getting support from former players, who deemed the move unnecessary.
Despite divided opinions, the Aussies’ make-shift bowling attack rose to the task ably, and routed Sri Lanka by an inning's margin. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bird-c48123 also left a great first impression by claiming four scalps. Howard was simply pleased with the overall outcome.
"The fast bowling discussion was a very big one in the lead-up to this Test," Howard said. "There'll be differing views through that process but there's the opportunity to give the selectors a bit of a wrap regarding that. They held firm and I think many of you would say there's been some benefit to that process, so I think on reflection it's been a reasonably positive couple of days.
"Injuries are a difficult part of the world game at the moment that we've all got to try to be very good at, we want to be the best at it, and we've got a long way to go."
Tags: