Test selectors expected to focus on SA-NSW match
ADELAIDE, Oct 24 AAP - Australia's Test selectors are expected to fix their attention on the Pura Cup cricket game between South Australia and New South Wales starting here tomorrow as they weigh up their Ashes batting options.
Sam Lienert
24-Oct-2002
ADELAIDE, Oct 24 AAP - Australia's Test selectors are expected to fix their attention on the Pura Cup cricket game between South Australia and New South Wales starting here tomorrow as they weigh up their Ashes batting options.
Should selectors decide it is time to end the career of Mark Waugh, SA captain and Pura Cup run-machine Darren Lehmann and 21-year-old NSW batting prodigy Michael Clarke are two names likely to come under strong consideration.
Coaches from both states today pushed the claims of their respective charges, with Redbacks' coach Greg Chappell saying he hoped this would be the only match his skipper played with SA this season.
"He's one of the better players in the country, so to have him back and his leadership as well is terrific," Chappell told reporters.
"But I hope he's not around for very long, as much as we love having him around, we'd rather he go off somewhere else.
"I think serious consideration will be given to Darren playing in the first Test and I would be disappointed and surprised if he wasn't given serious consideration."
NSW coach Steve Rixon said Clarke, a former Australian under 19 captain, was a Test player-in-waiting.
Rixon said that while Clarke would probably have to wait for his chance, if selectors decided it was time to build for the future by introducing a youngster to the Test side, Clarke would be well-suited to the task.
"I'd like to see him a little further down the track, but there's no way in the world he would let the side down," Rixon said.
"He's a guy that, against the Englishmen in particular, batting in that middle order, he'd be well catered for.
"If there has to be a change, and I'm not saying there should be, he would certainly not let the side down and he would blend into what is an outstanding cricket team."
Lehmann said he planned to ignore the speculation about his Test prospects, and just concentrate on trying to lead SA to its second outright win in two matches.
"That's all I'm worried about over the next four days, whatever outcomes happen with the Test match, if I play or if I get picked, I can't worry about that," he said.
"It's the next four days with South Australia that are the utmost importance in my mind at the moment."