Sunday, November 14, 2010

McKay to play for Australia A

Pace bowler Clint McKay will replace Mitchell Starc in Australia A's injury-hit lineup for their four-day game against England starting on Wednesday at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.

Starc, 20, has withdrawn because of a side strain and the home side have also been forced to find a replacement for injured West Australian opener Shaun Marsh (back), giving an opportunity to Tasmania's Ed Cowan.

Queensland quick Ryan Harris, who was a candidate to replace Starc, has also been ruled out with an ongoing knee complaint after taking nine wickets in last week's Shield win over Tasmania in Hobart.

Cricket Australia physio Kevin Sims said Starc has a "low-grade side strain" which the NSW left-armer suffered in last week's Shield match against Victoria at the SCG.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said Starc and McKay had both been impressive in taking nine wickets between them in Australia's one-day international win over Sri Lanka in game three in Brisbane on November 7.

"It's obviously very disappointing for Mitch who had been bowling well, as we saw in the last (ODI) match against Sri Lanka," Hilditch said on Monday.

"Clint ... has been a regular member around Australia's limited overs squads for some time now and I know he will be looking forward to this challenge against England."

Australia A batsman Callum Ferguson, who played for South Australia in last week's drawn game at Adelaide Oval, says the tourists are in excellent form.

"They're going to be a tough work out here but we've got some serious talent in this Australia A side and we'll be taking it right up to them, no doubt," Ferguson said.

England announced on Monday they would be resting their four frontline bowlers Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn and spinner Graeme Swann from the Australia A game and sending them straight to Brisbane to acclimatise for the first Ashes Test starting on November 25 at the Gabba.

Source http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/mckay-to-play-for-australia-a-20101115-17ts8.html

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