Aussie have clear edge over Mumbai sans Tendulkar, Agarkar
21 February 2001
Aussie skipper Steve Waugh said in Mumbai that picking leg spinner
Narendra Hirwani in the Indian team for the first Test match was a
good ploy.
Speaking to reporters after the nets at the Brabourne Stadium on
Wednesday, Waugh said "Hirwani has good experience in test cricket and
at the same time none of us have played him and the selectors have
done no harm by picking him as he could be a surprise packet."
Asked what he felt about the Indian selectors picking three spinners
in the Test squad - Hirwani, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Sanghvi - Waugh
said "I don't know who would be playing in the eleven so I can't
comment."
Waugh said the playing eleven for the three-day match against Ranji
Trophy champions Mumbai beginning Thursday had not been finalised just
yet.
"However, we might field just four bowlers as both Mark Waugh and
Ricky Ponting can bowl a bit and we are more interested in preparing
for the Test series", he added.
The Aussies are likely to leave out off spinner Colin Miller, Michael
Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie to accommodate Mark Waugh, Shane Warne
and Glenn McGrath in the final eleven for tomorrow's match.
The Australians hold a clear edge over the Ranji champions sans Sachin
Tendulkar and allrounder Ajit Agarkar. Indian coach John Wright and
physio Andrew Leipus had requested the Mumbai Cricket Association
(MCA) to rest batting maestro Tendulkar and Agarkar so that they could
recover from minor injuries in time for the first Test starting at
Wankhede Stadium from February 27.
Batsman Jatin Paranjpe and allrounder Robin Morrris, the two
replacements, will get a chance to show their mettle.
The home side led by wicketkeeper-batsman Samir Dighe would be looking
for runs from the blades of Wasim Jaffer, talented youngster Vinayak
Mane, Test discard Vinod Kambli, his deputy Amol Muzumdar and Sairaj
Bahutule.
Left arm spinners Nilesh Kulkarni and Rajesh Pawar, off spinner Ramesh
Powar and leg spinner Bahutule would be keenly watched by the
selectors.
Paras Mhambrey and Sriram Kannan are likely to open Mumbai's attack.
The Australians will be looking for runs from Mark Waugh, Nagpur
centurion Justin Langer, Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Damien
Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and skipper Steve Waugh himself.
While McGrath and Damien Fleming are the two new ball bowlers, the man
to watch would be the tantalising Shane Warne who has a bag full of
tricks for the Indian batsmen.
However, the common man has lost interest in the match due to the
absence of Tendulkar and Agarkar.
Their complete recovery in time for the first Test is much more
important for the Indian team than anything else and the Mumbai public
have to wait till February 27 to see Tendulkar and Agarkar in action.
The teams would be picked from the following players:
Mumbai: Samir Dighe (capt), Amol Muzumdar (vice-capt), Jatin Paranjpe,
Wasim Jaffer, Robin Morris, Vinayak Mane, Vinod Kambli, Sairaj
Bahutule, Paras Mhambrey, Nilesh Kulkarni, Ramesh Powar, Rajesh Pawar,
Sriram Kannan, Swapnil Hazare and Kunal More.
Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist (vice-capt), Damien
Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowiez, Justin
Langer, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller, Ricky Ponting,
Michael Slater, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh. Umpires: A M Saheba
(Gujarat) and Dr M S Mahal (Punjab).
© PTI
Teams
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India.
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Players/Umpires
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Steve Waugh,
Narendra Hirwani,
Harbhajan Singh,
Rahul Sanghvi,
Mark Waugh,
Ricky Ponting,
Colin Miller,
Michael Kasprowicz,
Jason Gillespie,
Glenn McGrath,
Sachin Tendulkar,
Ajit Agarkar,
John Wright,
Andrew Leipus,
Jatin Paranjpe,
Robin Morris,
Sameer Dighe,
Wasim Jaffer,
Vinayak Mane,
Vinod Kambli,
Amol Muzumdar,
Sairaj Bahutule,
Ramesh Powar,
Paras Mhambrey,
Shriram Kannan,
Michael Slater,
Matthew Hayden,
Damien Martyn,
Adam Gilchrist,
Shane Warne.
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Tours
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Australia in India
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Grounds
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
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