Warne confident of facing Hurricanes

Updated December 14, 2012 16:28:25

The Melbourne Stars are confident captain Shane Warne will overcome hamstring soreness to lead them in Saturday night's Big Bash League clash with the Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.

The 43-year-old felt a twinge during Wednesday night's win over the Perth Scorchers at the WACA ground and did not train with team-mates at the MCG on Friday.

"My preparation for tomorrow's game will be stretching and leg swings in the pool," Warne tweeted.

"(The) hamstring will hopefully pull up well tomorrow and be ready for our big game against the Hobart Hurricanes."

Opener Rob Quiney expected the skipper to play.

"He saw the physio and it should be right to go," Quiney told reporters after training.

Regardless, deceptive Sri Lankan quick Lasith Malinga is expected to be the biggest threat to the in-form Hurricanes batsman after his stunning 6 for 7 against the Scorchers.

Quiney hoped Malinga would get an early crack at Hobart's middle-order star pair Travis Birt and Owais Shah.

Birt was the competition's top-scorer last season and Englishman Shah fourth, with the pair again combining to steer the Hurricanes to a comfortable win over Brisbane in their opening match this season.

"It would be nice for Malinga to have a couple of overs against those two because I think those two are the key to their batting line-up," Quiney said.

The Hurricanes will welcome retired Test great Ricky Ponting into their team after he missed their opening match through illness.

Shah said Ponting would be a big asset in numerous ways but particularly to give some tips on how to handle Malinga.

"He was amazing the other night," Shah said of the Sri Lankan.

"He's a class act, but at the end of the day he's a bowler and we've just got to try and cope as well as we can against him and use our experience.

"We've got the likes of Ricky Ponting in our team now who can share some experience on how he would have played Malinga over the years that he's played.

"He's probably faced him the most out of all of us, so we're looking to Ricky."

Stars: Shane Warne (capt), Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Scott Henry, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Clinton McKay, Lasith Malinga, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Cameron White, Luke Wright.

Hurricanes: George Bailey (capt), Tim Paine, Doug Bollinger, Travis Birt, Xavier Doherty, Evan Gulbis, Michael Hogan, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Ricky Ponting, Owais Shah, Scott Styris, Jon Wells.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000, hobart-7000

First posted December 14, 2012 16:28:25

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Johnson facing crisis of confidence

Updated November 20, 2011 18:36:42

Under pressure and lacking confidence, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson made the drastic decision to shorten his run-up midway through the second Test against South Africa.

It did not work and the left-arm bowler remains on thin ice to keep his position in the attack for the Australian summer.

During South Africa's second innings on day three, Johnson almost halved his normal run-up to the crease and, despite failing to take a wicket, did not at any stage revert to his usual approach.

In a way, it is commendable he is willing to try whatever it takes to turn things around but, in reality, it was perceived as a sign of panic and desperation.

"I was surprised," admitted South African opening batsman, Jacques Rudolph.

"I find it a little bit strange that you change your running style in the middle of a Test match.

"Maybe it gives away a little bit of his headspace in terms of where he's at."

Had Ryan Harris been fit for the Johannesburg Test, it is questionable whether Johnson would have even played.

In the end, he was handed another reprieve, but not even a return to The Wanderers, where he took eight wickets back in 2009, could spur Johnson back to life.

Johnson has only once this year taken more than two wickets in a match.

Australian vice-captain Shane Watson does not beat around the bush when discussing Johnson's present levels of self belief, however he did not see the shortened run-up as a bad move.

"Mitch's confidence is not totally high," Watson said.

"There's no doubt he hasn't got as many wickets as he would have liked over the last while.

"But I actually thought he bowled quite nicely today.

"He was swinging the ball.

"Mitch is trying a couple of little things to be as effective as he possibly can.

"Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the breakthrough that we all wanted."

Watson said he was not concerned about Australia's attack despite his own hamstring injury, Harris' hip problem, the poor form of Johnson, the inexperience of Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle's lack of variation.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted November 20, 2011 12:17:47

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Hilfenhaus facing Zimbabwe selection trial

Posted May 23, 2011 16:28:00

Industrious paceman Ben Hilfenhaus faces a probable selection trial for this year's Test tour of Sri Lanka after being named in an Australia A squad travelling to Zimbabwe next month.

Hilfenhaus joined spinner Jason Krejza and Queensland's Chris Lynn from outside the provisional squad list for the Zimbabwe tour, which will feature a one-day tri-series against the hosts and South Africa as well as two four-day matches against Zimbabwe.

The burly Tasmanian quick was a member of Australia's attack for the final Ashes Test against England at the SCG in January but faces a challenge from rising stars, such as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, to retain his spot for the tour of Sri Lanka later in the year.

Hilfenhaus struggled during the Ashes, taking seven wickets at 59.28 in the four matches he played.

"The fast bowlers will be led by the experienced Ben Hilfenhaus who we are keen to get plenty of cricket into following a good break from last season," national chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.

"Also Mitchell Starc is returning from injury but performed well in Australian colours against Sri Lanka back in early November.

"They will be well supported by Trent Copeland and Luke Butterworth who both had stand-out seasons for their respective states."

New South Wales teenage bolter Pat Cummins was not available for the tour because of a back injury.

Australia's next Test appearance will be on a tour of Sri Lanka in August-September, although dates are yet to be confirmed.

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will lead both the one-day and four-day squads, which departs for Africa on June 25.

There will be four changes between the two forms of the game with Aaron Finch, Nathan Lyon, Lynn and Stephen O'Keefe to be replaced by Michael Beer, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Jason Krejza for the longer-format matches.

A schedule for the tour's matches is yet to be finalised by Zimbabwe Cricket.

Australia A one-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Callum Ferguson (v-c), Luke Butterworth, Trent Copeland, James Faulkner, Ben Hilfenhaus, Aaron Finch, Nathan Lyon, Chris Lynn, Nic Maddison, Mitch Marsh, Mitch Starc, Stephen O'Keefe, David Warner

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Callum Ferguson (v-c), Michael Beer, Luke Butterworth, Trent Copeland, James Faulkner, Ben Hilfenhaus, Usman Khawaja, Jason Krejza, Phillip Hughes, Nic Maddinson, Mitch Marsh, Mitch Starc, David Warner

- AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, zimbabwe

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