MacGill back in Australian team
AFP
7 December 1998
SYDNEY, Dec 7 (AFP) - Legspinner Stuart MacGill has been recalled
to the Australian cricket side for the third Test against England
in Adelaide starting on Friday.
The Australian selectors have dropped paceman Michael Kasprowicz
from the 12 man squad.
MacGill was left out of Australia's second Test win in Perth
after playing a key role in the drawn Ashes opener in Brisbane
because the selectors believed rightly pace would be the factor
in Perth.
If Australia face a dry, spinner's pitch in Adelaide and decide
to play MacGill and Colin Miller, either Damien Fleming or Jason
Gillespie would have to make way.
In that case the odds are South Australian speedster Gillespie
would carry the drinks in front of his home fans.
Either way it looks a difficult call.
Gillespie took 7-111 in Perth, including four wickets in six
balls in the second innings, while Fleming was man of the match
with 9-91.
Shane Warne was initially planned to return in Adelaide but his
results for Victoria suggest he is below Test-match form.
An Australian win in Adelaide will ensure the Ashes stay down
under. Warne believes he will be back for the fourth Test
starting in Melbourne on December 26.
``Boxing Day is my target for meeting the Poms. My aim is the
Fourth Test on my favourite ground in front of 90,000 people at
the MCG,'' he said.
Warne said he was not confident enough to bowl his flipper but
was practising a variety of deliveries and hoped physiotherapy
would clear up the stiffness which is inhibiting him.
``I'm dropping them short, which I've never done in my whole
career,'' he said. Australia:
Mark Taylor (capt), Steve Waugh (vice capt), Michael Slater,
Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Stuart
MacGill, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Colin
Miller
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