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Craig HillAustralian Squad For South Africa Named
February 5th 2009 13:29
Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) today announced a 14-man squad to take part in the three-Test VB Tour of South Africa 2009.
The squad is:
Ricky Ponting (captain): TAS, 34
Michael Clarke (vice-captain): NSW, 27
Doug Bollinger: NSW, 27
Brad Haddin: NSW, 31
Nathan Hauritz: NSW, 27
Ben Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
Phillip Hughes: NSW, 20
Michael Hussey: WA, 33
Mitchell Johnson: WA, 27
Simon Katich: NSW, 33
Andrew McDonald: VIC, 27
Bryce McGain: VIC, 36
Marcus North: WA, 29
Peter Siddle: VIC, 24
Commenting on the squad NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:
“This is an extremely challenging, but in the same breath very exciting, period in Australian cricket.”
“We have gone through immense change in the last couple of years with many of the true legends of Australian cricket leaving the game. We are also enduring an unprecedented run of injuries to many of our contracted players. That being said, with all this has come great opportunity as the side rebuilds.
“This rebuilding process has already seen some outstanding progress being made by some of our best young players including Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Brad Haddin who have made excellent contributions to Australian cricket during the initial phase of the rebuilding process.
“There is probably no greater challenge in world cricket at present than playing South Africa away. South Africa has an extremely strong side and will be extremely tough, particularly in home conditions. The tour represents an exciting challenge for the squad which contains a very good blend of experienced, proven international batsmen and some of our outstanding young talent.
“We have the utmost faith in the young group of Australian cricketers coming through. Whilst the next 12 months will undoubtedly be extremely testing and challenging, we are confident that the new breed of Australian cricketers will hold Australian cricket in a strong position moving forward.
“It is one of the most exciting things I have had the pleasure of doing since being a selector in naming Phillip Hughes in the Test touring squad. Phillip has been given the fairly daunting task of filling the shoes of one of Australia's greatest batsmen Matthew Hayden. Phillip is a young man who has had an outstanding debut in first-class cricket for New South Wales.
“From the time of his century in the Sheffield Shield final last season and through this year, he has played extremely well and we are confident that he is someone with the potential to have a long international career. I don't suppose the introduction could be any tougher for a young opening batsman, but he will be surrounded by experienced batsmen and we are confident he will meet the challenge.
“Phil Jaques has not been selected in the squad. Phil has bravely come back from back surgery in an attempt to make himself available for the tour, but in the NSP’s view, he has simply not played enough cricket since surgery to force his way into the team.
“Marcus North gets his long-awaited chance to join an Australian squad. Whilst Marcus is still a young man, he has had over eight years of first-class experience. He has been added to the squad both because of his strong Shield batting form this year and his ability to bowl off-spin which adds greatly to the flexibility of the squad.
“This is consistent with our approach since 2005 in having batsmen in the top six providing quality overs to support the bowling group. His addition, together with the retention of Andrew McDonald following his successful debut in the Sydney 3 Mobile Test, gives the squad great flexibility.
“It is very exciting also that we are taking four fast bowlers to South Africa, all of whom are aged 27 or under and with the potential to have long international careers. The development of Johnson and Siddle has been dramatic and Doug Bollinger debuted well in Sydney and we are confident Ben Hilfenhaus is someone who will succeed at international level. Whilst the experience and ability of Brett Lee and Stuart Clark will be sorely missed, it does create great opportunities for these young men.
“We are very pleased with the role played by Nathan Hauritz in the 3 Mobile Test Series in Australia. He has also returned to New South Wales to play a key role in their recent Sheffield Shield victory against Tasmania and richly deserves to retain his spot.
“Bryce McGain joins the squad after recovering from his shoulder injury. The loss of Bryce before the start of the India Test series was a significant one and we are very pleased with his progress following surgery. In his return match for Victoria he took five wickets in the second innings and bowled extremely well. His addition adds further flexibility to the squad with him being the outstanding leg spinner in Australian cricket at present.
“Whilst not underestimating in any way the challenge which faces this young group of players, the NSP is confident the group will perform extremely well and build on the success they had in the recent Sydney Test.”
The squad is:
Ricky Ponting (captain): TAS, 34
Michael Clarke (vice-captain): NSW, 27
Doug Bollinger: NSW, 27
Brad Haddin: NSW, 31
Nathan Hauritz: NSW, 27
Ben Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
Phillip Hughes: NSW, 20
Michael Hussey: WA, 33
Mitchell Johnson: WA, 27
Simon Katich: NSW, 33
Andrew McDonald: VIC, 27
Bryce McGain: VIC, 36
Marcus North: WA, 29
Peter Siddle: VIC, 24
Phillip Hughes
Commenting on the squad NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:
“This is an extremely challenging, but in the same breath very exciting, period in Australian cricket.”
“We have gone through immense change in the last couple of years with many of the true legends of Australian cricket leaving the game. We are also enduring an unprecedented run of injuries to many of our contracted players. That being said, with all this has come great opportunity as the side rebuilds.
“This rebuilding process has already seen some outstanding progress being made by some of our best young players including Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Brad Haddin who have made excellent contributions to Australian cricket during the initial phase of the rebuilding process.
“There is probably no greater challenge in world cricket at present than playing South Africa away. South Africa has an extremely strong side and will be extremely tough, particularly in home conditions. The tour represents an exciting challenge for the squad which contains a very good blend of experienced, proven international batsmen and some of our outstanding young talent.
“We have the utmost faith in the young group of Australian cricketers coming through. Whilst the next 12 months will undoubtedly be extremely testing and challenging, we are confident that the new breed of Australian cricketers will hold Australian cricket in a strong position moving forward.
“It is one of the most exciting things I have had the pleasure of doing since being a selector in naming Phillip Hughes in the Test touring squad. Phillip has been given the fairly daunting task of filling the shoes of one of Australia's greatest batsmen Matthew Hayden. Phillip is a young man who has had an outstanding debut in first-class cricket for New South Wales.
“From the time of his century in the Sheffield Shield final last season and through this year, he has played extremely well and we are confident that he is someone with the potential to have a long international career. I don't suppose the introduction could be any tougher for a young opening batsman, but he will be surrounded by experienced batsmen and we are confident he will meet the challenge.
“Phil Jaques has not been selected in the squad. Phil has bravely come back from back surgery in an attempt to make himself available for the tour, but in the NSP’s view, he has simply not played enough cricket since surgery to force his way into the team.
“Marcus North gets his long-awaited chance to join an Australian squad. Whilst Marcus is still a young man, he has had over eight years of first-class experience. He has been added to the squad both because of his strong Shield batting form this year and his ability to bowl off-spin which adds greatly to the flexibility of the squad.
“This is consistent with our approach since 2005 in having batsmen in the top six providing quality overs to support the bowling group. His addition, together with the retention of Andrew McDonald following his successful debut in the Sydney 3 Mobile Test, gives the squad great flexibility.
“It is very exciting also that we are taking four fast bowlers to South Africa, all of whom are aged 27 or under and with the potential to have long international careers. The development of Johnson and Siddle has been dramatic and Doug Bollinger debuted well in Sydney and we are confident Ben Hilfenhaus is someone who will succeed at international level. Whilst the experience and ability of Brett Lee and Stuart Clark will be sorely missed, it does create great opportunities for these young men.
“We are very pleased with the role played by Nathan Hauritz in the 3 Mobile Test Series in Australia. He has also returned to New South Wales to play a key role in their recent Sheffield Shield victory against Tasmania and richly deserves to retain his spot.
“Bryce McGain joins the squad after recovering from his shoulder injury. The loss of Bryce before the start of the India Test series was a significant one and we are very pleased with his progress following surgery. In his return match for Victoria he took five wickets in the second innings and bowled extremely well. His addition adds further flexibility to the squad with him being the outstanding leg spinner in Australian cricket at present.
“Whilst not underestimating in any way the challenge which faces this young group of players, the NSP is confident the group will perform extremely well and build on the success they had in the recent Sydney Test.”
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