Aussies need a squad re-jig by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Player:	SR Watson, MJ Clarke, SW Tait
Event:	England in Australia 2006/07

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DateLine: 19th November 2006

 

Australia are unlikely to play an all-rounder in next week's opening Ashes Test with England if Shane Watson succumbs to a hamstring injury.

 

Selectors Saturday reacted to doubts over Watson's availability for next Thursday's first Brisbane Test by calling up specialist batsman Michael Clarke, who played in last year's losing Ashes series in England.

 

The Australians had further injury concerns Saturday when fast bowler Shaun Tait came off the field while bowling for South Australia against the tourists in Adelaide. A team official said Tait's problem was cramp.

 

Tait, who is one of three fast bowlers vying for the third fast bowling spot in Brisbane, left the field four balls into his 20th over nearing second day stumps.

 

Watson injured his right hamstring while bowling for Queensland in a one-dayer against Western Australia in Perth on Friday and is facing extensive physiotherapy treatment to play in the Test match.

 

Clarke's call-up indicates the selectors will replace Watson with a batsman and not a bowler should he be ruled out.

 

Australia have been receptive to playing an all rounder since losing the Ashes to the Andrew Flintoff-inspired England last year. Andrew Symonds, who can bowl off-spin or medium pace, could have been an all-rounder option, but his unconvincing performances in 10 Tests - he averages 19 with the bat and 45 with the ball - didn't help his chances.

 

Australia has played an all rounder - either Watson or Symonds - in all 12 of its Tests since it lost the 2005 Ashes, for 11 wins and a draw. Playing six batsmen plus wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist also has ramifications for which third paceman gets the nod to bowl first change after Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath.

 

Clark, Johnson and Tait are vying for that role, but if fast bowler Watson is ruled out, the selectors could look favourably on Clarke given his ability to bowl longer accurate spells than his rivals. Tait bowled short spells against England on Saturday and finished day two with figures of 3-65, but his erratic bowling yielded five wides and nine no-balls.

 

England received some good news after strike bowler Steve Harmison bowled encouragingly in the Adelaide Oval nets. Harmison withdrew from the tour match because of tightness in his side, an injury which kept him out of the one-day internationals against Pakistan in August, and looked to have jeopardised his Ashes campaign. But he bowled at good pace in the nets, which boosted his chances of playing Thursday.