Aussies ‘cover’ stumpvision with Maher

Specialist batsman Jimmy Maher will replace Adam Gilchrist as Australia’s wicketkeeper in tomorrow’s tri-nations series one-day in...

Specialist batsman Jimmy Maher will replace Adam Gilchrist as Australia’s wicketkeeper in tomorrow’s tri-nations series one-day international against Sri Lanka here, coach John Buchanan said today. ‘‘We are trying to cover as many bases as we can ahead of the one-day World Cup starting next month,’’ Buchanan said.

Australia will be defending their crown in the 14-nation contest in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

‘‘What can potentially happen in in the World Cup is that Adam suffers an injury, which would make him unavailable for a game. Now is a good opportunity to give Jimmy a run through.

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Warne may return for the finals, says coach
Brisbane: Australia’s match-winning leg-spin bowler Shane Warne, recovering from a severe shoulder injury, may be back in international action as early as next week, Australian coach John Buchanan said here today. ‘‘It is highly likely he will feature during the finals of the tri-nations series,’’ he said, outlining the 33-year-old’s rehabilitation ahead of the World Cup starting next month in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The tri-nations deciders are scheduled for the Thursday and Saturday of next week and — if a third clash is needed — the following Monday. Australia, who have won four of their first five qualifying games, are almost certain to be in the finals, in which they will play England or Sri Lanka. Warne had surgery on his right bowling shoulder only a month ago after injuring it in a fielding accident. He made a promising return to the bowling crease last Friday when, after a nervous start, he settled down to take 1-53 off eight overs for Victoria in a match against Western Australia.

‘‘He can get some experience which he may not normally get under very good match conditions against a very good side. ‘‘We don’t know if there will be other opportunities for him — we will assess things as we go on. These things will be decided on a match-by-match basis. ‘‘If another opportunity presents itself — and it is appropriate — we would do it again.’’

Selectors have decided to rest Gilchrist — rated the world’s top wicketkeeper-batsman — after a recent heavy workload in the Ashes series and the early tri-nations clashes.

They want to have a close look at Maher, 28, a makeshift gloveman who has kept only once for his Queensland state side — and that was six years ago. Buchanan said as well as doing the ’keeping job, Maher would probably open the batting with Matthew Hayden.

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‘‘It might depend on how he goes if he has to keep first, but that is the plan — that he would be a straight replacement. I am sure he is going to be a very sore boy after 50 overs behind the stumps. When you are not used to it, it is a tough job.’’

Gilchrist admitted this week that he was feeling the effects of a heavy playing schedule. Star fast bowler Glenn McGrath, struggling with a lowerback strain, practiced in the nets here today and a decision about whether he will play against Sri Lanka will be made early tomorrow, Buchanan said.

‘‘With Glenn, it is just a case of seeing how he pulls up in the morning,’’ he said. ‘‘He will probably have a light roll of his arm in the morning, and if all is okay, he will be on the park.’’ McGrath said his back had felt comfortable at training. ‘‘I bowled the equivalent of seven or eight overs, and it feels pretty good. The real test, though, will be in the morning.

‘‘I have sometimes in the past felt good in the nets and then been tight the next morning. If it feels as good tomorrow morning as it does now, there is a big chance I will play.’’

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With fellow paceman Andrew Bichel already ruled out of the match through injury, Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken have been drafted into the squad with at least one of them almost certain to play.

There was no decision yet on whether Williams or Bracken would get the one spot open if McGrath was deemed fit to play.