News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » McGrath recalled for Zimbabwe tour

McGrath recalled for Zimbabwe tour

April 21, 2004 15:10 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Fast-medium bowler Glenn McGrath has been recalled to Australia's Test and One-Day Internationals team for their tour of Zimbabwe that begins next month.

Australia's selectors also named all-rounder Cameron White in the Test squad for the first time after leg-spinner Stuart MacGill made himself unavailable on moral grounds.

McGrath has not played for Australia in almost a year because of an ankle injury but has proved his fitness.

"Glenn's 100 per cent fit and ready to go so it's sensible that he returns to the squad given his prior status as the premier fast bowler in the world," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a statement.

"With the short nature of the tour, it's a good opportunity for Glenn to ease his way back into competitive cricket and it gives us an opportunity to assess how well he is going in a view to the next 12 months and what lies ahead for the Australian cricket team."

MacGill's decision not to tour prompted the selectors to name White as the back-up to Shane Warne.

"We were keen to take two spinners to Zimbabwe and given Stuart's unavailability for the tour, we now have an opportunity to look at one of our younger spinners," Hohns said.

"His form in the (domestic competition) with both bat and ball was very good and we're looking forward to seeing him take the next step on the international stage."

All-rounder Andrew Symonds was dropped from the Test side just weeks after he made his debut in Sri Lanka but kept his place in the one-day squad.

"Andrew's selection in the Test squad for Sri Lanka was exclusively based on the conditions in that country, and with the squad for Zimbabwe being reduced from 15 to 13, it wasn't necessary to take an extra batsman," Hohns said.

"We all know that Andrew's a quality player and never out of our thoughts because of the flexibility he offers our squads with his all round talents."

The Australians will play two Tests and three one-dayers on the tour, which begins on May 17 with a warm-up game before the first Test starts on May 22, with the final One-Day International on June 12.

Test squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann, Shane Warne, Cameron White, Brad Williams.

One-day squad: Ponting, Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Gillespie, Brad Hogg, Ian Harvey, Hayden, Kasprowicz, Martyn, McGrath, Lehmann, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Williams.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024