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Australia wait on Warner fitness

Posted by Admin on Monday, 5 March 2012 | 0 comments

Pre-match training drills will determine whether or not David Warner can attempt to finish off Sri Lanka in the triangular series after setting Australia on the path to a 1-0 finals lead with a staunch 163 at the Gabba.

Warner suffered a groin strain during the innings and did not field, later emerging to indicate his own doubts about whether he would be fit in time for the Adelaide Oval match. But he pulled up as well as could be expected on the team's travel day from Brisbane, and on arrival at the team hotel resumed recovery work with the team's physio Alex Kountouris.

David Hussey spoke for the rest of the team when he expressed how much Warner was valued, particularly after he found the right gears for ODI success in his Brisbane innings, an affair more restrained than many of his Twenty20 efforts and even some Test match innings.

"He's going to have a fitness test tomorrow morning but we all hope he's up and firing for it, it was a fantastic innings and all the boys are hoping he replicates that tomorrow," Hussey said. "He's an integral part of the team, opening batsman. If he comes out and produces another 150, that'd be fantastic for us and go a long way towards us achieving our goal and winning the series in two games."

Australia's players were aware of how close they had come to letting Sri Lanka wriggle free to victory on Sunday night, and if any doubted it they were quickly brought into line by the captain Michael Clarke. Hussey reasoned that a greasy ball and the threat of rain had not helped, two obstacles far less likely to appear in Adelaide. He also acknowledged the shock value of Nuwan Kulasekara, who blazed 73 when many thought the match was done.

"We know the conditions were a bit greasy and it was very hard to stand up for the fast bowlers, so if we can just execute our skills, practice our yorkers a bit more, I think we'll go a long way towards winning the game," Hussey said. "I thought we played three-fourth of the perfect game last night.

"They did [surprise], particularly Kulasekara, he's a bit of a fighter, doesn't want to give his wicket away cheaply and he's desperate to win games for his team. He struck the ball nicely, we were very lucky to see the back of him at the time, and we scrap*d over the line."

Apart from Warner, who if injured is most likely to be replaced by Peter Forrest, the fast bowlers James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus are looking over their shoulders at the likely decision to recall Clint McKay, a slower but steadier option than either of the Test pacemen looked in Brisbane.

"I think Clint's performed very well throughout the series, not only against Sri Lanka but India as well," Hussey said. "He's one of the leading wicket-takers. So if the selection does come up I think Clint will do an exceptional job."

Apart from the fatigue of a long summer and the looming threat of a Sri Lankan side that is finding itself again after nearly a year of uncertainty and stagnation, Australia also face the obstacle of unbroken ground. Hussey reminded all that not every member of the squad had won an ODI trophy at home, the desire to do so building its own pressure.

"This is a chance to win a series, not all of us have won series in Australia in ODIs," he said. "So I think it is very important we actually close out the series tomorrow in a professional manner, play good, decent cricket and perhaps the perfect game."