Present good but Aussies worried over perfect future

Australia’s loss to England in the final Ashes Test has exposed concerns about a future without their two leading strike bowlers Glenn ...

Australia’s loss to England in the final Ashes Test has exposed concerns about a future without their two leading strike bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

Both men missed the Sydney Test through injuries and with the World Cup starting in a month’s time there are renewed fears about the ability of the support bowlers to take over.

Gillespie told to rest injured elbow
Melbourne: Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie is expected to miss the remainder of the triangular limited overs series against England and Sri Lanka because of an elbow injury.
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) released a statement on Tuesday to say Gillespie, who landed awkwardly on his left elbow while bowling in last week’s fifth test against England in Sydney, had visited a specialist in Melbourne.

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“The assessment revealed capsule damage to the elbow joint and the fast bowler has been instructed to rest for two to three weeks,” the ACB statement said.
Gillespie would be reassessed on January 19 by the team physiotherapist Errol Alcott, the ACB added. The lanky paceman topped the Ashes five-test series aggregates with 20 wickets at 24.60. Australia lead the one-day series with three wins from three matches last month.

The series resumes on Thursday when Australia host Sri Lanka in Sydney.
The best-of-three finals series is scheduled for January 23, 25 and 27, which could rule Gillespie out of the rest of the series. Gillespie is expected to lead Australia’s new-ball attack with Glenn McGrath in the World Cup which starts in southern Africa next month. (Reuters)

Australia’s bowling stocks are already stretched to the limit with paceman Jason Gillespie out of action for at least two weeks with elbow and knee problems and Andy Bichel suffering a broken finger.

McGrath is recovering from a side strain but is certain to lead the attack in the World Cup while Warne is still doubtful after dislocating his right shoulder last month.

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The leg-spinner, Australia’s leading wicket-taker in Test and limited-overs cricket, began bowling in the nets for the first time this week but is not certain to make it South Africa.

With more than 900 Test wickets between them, McGrath and Warne already rank as two of the greatest bowlers the game has produced and it’s no coincidence that Australia have established themselves as one of the finest teams in history during their careers.

Their absence from the Sydney test showed how valuable they are to the team as England piled up 362 in the first innings then a 452-9 in the second, easily their highest score of the series won 4-1 by Australia.

With the World Cup starting on February 9, test captain Steve Waugh said Australia would have to keep their best bowlers wrapped in cotton wool if they wanted to retain their World Cup.

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“It’s more about man management, not overplaying them now and making sure that they’re peaking for the World Cup,” Waugh said.

“That’s where they’re going to be judged… the most important series obviously is the World Cup.

“They’ve got to get right for that and make sure that they’ve got 15 players, the strongest possible team going and are as fit as they possibly can be.” (Reuters)