Australia stick with winning formula

Updated January 02, 2012 17:00:44

Australia has announced an unchanged side for the second Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, beginning on Tuesday.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris, who did not recover from injury in time to be part of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, has been named as the 12th man.

There had been speculation that Harris may be part of an all-pace attack for the 100th Test at the SCG which has lost its reputation as a turning wicket in recent years.

Instead spinner Nathan Lyon retains his place in the line-up despite appearing a minimal threat to the Indian batsmen and taking figures of one for 91 in Melbourne.

"Same team as Melbourne, so tough call on Rhino (Harris)," Clarke said, at his pre-match press conference at the SCG.

"He's been a wonderful bowler for us and I love having him in and around the group and it was tough to leave him out but we've stuck with the winning team in Melbourne.

"I think the way we performed in Melbourne, it's tough to change that team.

"We've had a long enough break as well and that was probably the other consideration.

"Finishing the game a day early and the bowlers not bowling too many overs in the second innings has certainly helped them."

Clarke played down suggestions that 21-year-old James Pattinson is now the leader of the bowling attack, insisting that he, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus are equal partners - evidencing their even distribution of wickets in the first Test.

"Patto is just starting, he's a wonderful talent don't get me wrong but I'd hate to see us put extra pressure on him," Clarke said.

"He's got a good crew around him as well ... I think we're building a good crew of fast bowlers and they are all just as vital as each other, I don't think there's one that is above the rest.

"They're all very talented and we need every single one of them to continue to perform if we're to go forward in Test cricket.

Australia leads the four-match series 1-0 after inflicting a 122-run defeat on India in the first Test.

Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 02, 2012 11:46:09

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Hurricanes boast winning BBL formula

Updated December 29, 2011 15:09:14

Hobart Hurricanes captain Xavier Doherty was not surprised when no-one hailed his outfit as Big Bash League contenders.

"Probably at the start of the series, no-one really talked about us," Doherty said.

"No-one really does talk about Hobart, that is just the way it is and we accept that."

But three consecutive wins have Hobart not only BBL pacesetters, but standard setters.

Doherty, who took a masterly 4 for 17 in Hobart's 14-run victory over Adelaide Strikers on Wednesday night, is the competition's most economical bowler.

The second and third most miserly are his team-mates, Rhett Lockyear and Ben Hilfenhaus.

The Hurricanes boast the tournament's top run-scorer in Travis Birt (149 runs), with team-mate Phil Jaques third.

And Hobart's star import, Pakistani pacer Rana Naved, has taken the most wickets so far, with Doherty second.

Little wonder Doherty says the Hurricanes are riding a wave of confidence.

"Winning becomes a bit of a habit and at the moment we're winning and it's pretty good," he said.

"Guys are playing with confidence, which is a massive part of Twenty20."

Hobart's batting has been underpinned by Jaques' consistency and Birt's aggression with a common theme of steady, rather than blazing, starts to their innings.

"We probably don't have the superstars at the top of the order to go really hard," Doherty said.

"I'm sure at some stage this tournament we will get off to a bit of a flyer but so far it's more just six, seven runs an over.

"But more often than not, we have got wickets in hand and that is the main thing."

Hobart host the Chris Gayle-powered Sydney Thunder, who are undefeated from two games, on New Year's Day.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, tas, hobart-7000

First posted December 29, 2011 14:19:47

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