SYDNEY: All-rounder Shane Watson was yesterday included in Australia’s squad for the pivotal second Test against South Africa, despite concerns about his fitness.
Vice-captain Watson sat out the first drawn Gabba Test against the world number one Proteas with a calf strain and his inclusion for next week’s Adelaide clash is the only amendment to the line-up.
Rob Quiney, who was added to the squad when Watson pulled out of Brisbane, remains with the team.
National selector John Inverarity said it was not clear if Watson, who has been prolific with both bat and ball in all formats recently, would recover in time for the Test that starts on November 22.
The Australians came out of the first of three Tests with an edge over the South Africans in the drawn game, but they must win the series to wrest the world number one ranking from their rivals, making Adelaide pivotal.
Australia squad:
Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, David Warner, Ed Cowan, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus, Rob Quiney.
Richards to mentor Warne’s T20 team
SYDNEY: Legendary batsman Sir Viv Richards was yesterday named as the latest recruit to the ranks of Shane Warne’s Australian Twenty20 side, with the West Indian to mentor the Melbourne Stars.
Warne, who will skipper the Stars in the domestic Big Bash League, was keen to have the man dubbed the “Master Blaster” onboard for the team’s second season, the club’s chairman of selectors Ian Chappell said. Chappell said securing Richards’ expertise was “a huge coup for the team”.
“As a player Viv set himself high standards with former Pakistan captain Imran Khan describing him as ‘a batsman who intimidated bowlers’,” he said.
“He was also one of the best all-round fieldsmen I’ve seen -- brilliant in any position from cover to slips and even at bat pad.”
Richards, who is now 60, scored 8,540 runs in 121 Tests and with his explosive batting played a starring role in the all-conquering Windies team that did not lose a Test series between 1980 and 1995. The BBL kicks off on December 7. REUTERS
