AUSTRALIA will this week discover what – if any – roles evergreen batsman Mike Hussey and spinner Nathan Hauritz will play at the 2011 World Cup, selector Greg Chappell has revealed. National selectors will receive a medical verdict on the recovery time of Hussey’s torn hamstring, Hauritz’ dislocated bowling shoulder and skipper Ricky Ponting’s broken finger after the Australia Day one-day international in Adelaide.
“We are waiting for reports later this week . . . which will give us a better idea about their potential to play at the World Cup,” Chappell said.
The trio will ideally be fit by the later stages of qualifying rounds with the quarter-finals to start on March 23.
“It will be guided by medical experts,” Chappell said. “We are pretty confident Ricky will be OK. He is almost at the point that he can pick up the bat.”
Chappell said the selection panel’s plans had not been altered by Australia’s mounting injury list, which also included Shaun Tait (hamstring).
Batsman David Hussey has provided a revealing diagnosis on brother Michael’s hamstring strain and insight into Michael Clarke’s batting woes.
He said Clarke was simply trying too hard to find form, while he believed it would take more than hamstring surgery to sideline older brother Michael from the World Cup.
“I’m sure he’ll be fit and healthy in the shortest amount of time because he loves playing cricket and wants to get back there as soon as possible,” Hussey said. “He lives for a World Cup.”
Hussey recommended his skipper take a more casual approach to end a summer-long form slump.
“On the field, I think he’s captaining beautifully. Every bowling change he’s made, he’s brought wickets,” Hussey said.
“Maybe he is trying a bit too hard when it comes to batting.” (Herald Sun)