Australian top trio in doubt for Indian series

Greg Buckle

Australia captain Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne may be unavailable for a proposed one-day series at home to India in September because their wives are due to give birth.

Waugh is due to discuss his availability with Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Malcolm Speed in London during the next seven days, a board spokesman said here on Thursday.

"I doubt whether I'll be playing because Lynette's due on the 20th of September," Waugh said in Manchester where his team play England in a triangular series day-night match at Old Trafford later on Thursday.

"I think Glenn McGrath's wife (Jane) is due on the 23rd, so that's two players who'd be struggling. Shane Warne's wife (Simone) is due the week after, so it's a difficult one," the Australian skipper added.

Speed, who takes over as International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive in July, will be in London for the traditional June meeting of the ICC at Lord's next week.

ACB public affairs general manager Brendan McClements told Reuters: "I know Malcolm has left today for the ICC meeting. I'm sure he'll take the opportunity to sit down with Steve.

"It's an issue we talk to the players about and we try to be sympathetic. Cricket is played regularly these days and Steve accepts that. They know this (tournament) is a big money-spinner."

The Australian team do not return home from the three-month Ashes tour until September 1, leaving little rest time before the projected Indian series.

But McClements said the players had already been allocated their minimum requirement of six weeks' leave, which fell before the Ashes tour.

Waugh said late additions to an already tight schedule were "not ideal" but added the players were aware such tournaments were lucrative for them under a new agreement signed with the board last month.

"The boys know they're big-money ventures, a lot of money is generated from them, of which the players get a percentage back in revenue," Waugh said.

Speed was quoted as saying by The Australian newspaper that although the players would be coming off a gruelling Ashes tour, they would be expected to honour their increasingly lucrative contracts.

"They are aware that they are well-paid and they will be required from time to time to play in matches when, traditionally, they would have rested," Speed said.

While he is at the ICC meeting, Speed is to meet Indian officials to confirm their participation in the three-match one-day series in Australia in late September.

Mail Cricket Editor