Steve Waugh confident of returning for fourth Test
Australian skipper Steve Waugh is confident of returning for the fourth Test starting on Boxing Day, with Damien Martyn likely to stand aside once again.
Waugh missed out on the series-clinching win over the West Indies in the Adelaide third Test with a strained buttock, sustained during the second Test in Perth.
However Waugh said Wednesday the injury was improving rapidly.
"I've done a fair bit of work over the last ten days and the buttock is feeling good," he said.
When asked if he would play in Melbourne, Waugh replied: "I hope so. I will have a fitness test in four days' time and if it's good then I'll play, but I'm confident at the moment."
Waugh was Wednesday included in a 14-man Australian squad for the fourth Test, along with fast bowler Brett Lee, who also missed out in Adelaide with back problems.
Lee will have a scan prior to the Melbourne Test.
"That will be the judge on him," Waugh said. "It's not how he feels or what he thinks, it's just basically down to what shows up on the x-ray."
If the stress is still to be found in his back, Lee will not be risked as it could lead to a career-threatening stress fracture.
Should Lee and Waugh both prove their fitness, the selectors will have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal with their replacements for the third Test, Colin Miller and Martyn, both starred.
Miller took 10 wickets in a man-of-the-match performance and, as the Boxing Day Test will be on his home ground, may keep his place even if Lee plays.
That would mean either leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who bowled poorly in Adelaide, or Jason Gillespie missing out along with Adelaide Test 12th man Andy Bichel.
Martyn seems certain to be dropped if Waugh returns, despite scoring 46 not out and 34 not out in Adelaide, giving him 374 runs at 93.5 in his last four Tests.
"It's good for the selectors we've got so many quality players," Waugh said.
"It shows we've got a lot of depth but somebody has got to miss out.... I just hope it's not me."
In Waugh's absence in Adelaide, Adam Gilchrist became only the third wicketkeeper to captain Australia in a Test match.
Waugh was full of his praise for his deputy's captaincy performance as Australia stretched their winning streak to a record 13 Tests.
"He did an excellent job," Waugh said. "The team was great under difficult circumstances, losing the toss and having to bat on a tough wicket on the last couple of days.
"It was a really good team win, everyone contributed and that's been the great strength of the side."
Meanwhile, the West Indies arrived here Wednesday and are likely to have their first training run at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Australia - Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Colin Miller, Jason Gillespie, Andrew Bichel, Glenn McGrath.
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Mail Cricket Editor
