Defiant Ponting kicks off title defence without Mike Hussey and Hauritz

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More... Wounded wait for World Cup clearance Chris Leitch and Daniel Brettig February 7, 2011 .AAP Australian coach Tim Nielsen implored selectors not to saddle his squad with too many wounded players ahead of their departure for the World Cup on Wednesday. As the players indulge in the trappings of the Allan Border Medal on Monday night, selectors and medical staff will be deciding which unfit players they can risk. The national squad will leave for the subcontinent on Wednesday ahead of the first practice match against India on February 13. Under tournament rules, a player named in the original squad of 15 may be replaced at any time, but immediately becomes ineligible if someone else takes his spot. This has left Mike Hussey (torn hamstring) and Nathan Hauritz (dislocated shoulder) in precarious circumstances, as neither can be sure of their recovery time after major injuries. Captain Ricky Ponting (fractured finger), back-up spinner Xavier Doherty (back pain) and all-rounder Steve Smith (hip strain) are considered slightly less problematic. Further complicating matters is a hamstring strain for Shaun Marsh, thought to be the frontrunner to replace Hussey. Nielsen stated the team could not afford to take as many as five unfit players to India. "I don't think so personally," he said. "It's important we have enough coverage when we get over to India for our first practice game that we're not reliant on 11 players to be right to go. "Ultimately that puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team, ultimately it creates a little doubt among the group and amongst ourselves about where players are at. "When are they going to come back, are we guessing, are we not guessing? All of those little distractions aren't things you like to be taking into such a big tournament like a World Cup." Having seen all manner of injury mishaps in his time in cricket, Nielsen said having only 11 fit players to start with was not an option. "I can't afford to have two, three or four guys that we're uncertain about," he said. "There's always an opportunity someone might dislocate a finger in a warm-up or get crook on the day of the game. "We need to have a pretty good back-up of players ready to go for every game to cover any contingency. "That's the decision we need to make." Should Ponting, Hussey or Marsh not be fit, recalled batsman Adam Voges did his chances no harm with an unbeaten 80 in the final one-day international against England. "It's out of my hands now so I'll enjoy tonight, enjoy the moment and whatever happens down the track so be it," Voges said. "I've got a Shield game to get ready for in four days' time so that's my focus at the moment." Voges and David Hussey set up Australia's 57-run win with a partnership of 95 at the WACA Ground on Sunday. The WA batsman only scored four boundaries but his innings came from just 72 deliveries. "When I'm playing well that's my plan most of the time, to hit gaps, to run hard and score off as many balls as possible," Voges said. "There probably wasn't enough boundaries at the back end because I didn't hit them well enough but we got the job done and got a pretty good total." Australia's first group match at the World Cup is against Zimbabwe at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad on February 21.

[urbestfriend]

Mike Hussey and Hauritz out of WC http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/current/story/499890.html Ferguson and Kreza replacing them. Ideally I'd have liked Doherty instead of Kreza.

Hussey, Hauritz out of World Cup Brydon Coverdale February 8, 2011 Australia's World Cup campaign has been dealt a blow even before the squad leaves Australia, with Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz ruled out due to injuries. Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza will replace the pair in the 15-man squad, which flies out to India on Wednesday to defend the title under Ricky Ponting. And if losing a key middle-order batsman and the first-choice spinner was not bad enough, Australia could not even opt for their second choices in each discipline, with Shaun Marsh and Xavier Doherty not considered due to injuries of their own. It has meant a rapid promotion for the aggressive offspinner Krejza, who made his ODI debut on Sunday, while the inclusion of Ferguson was less of a surprise given his solid performances at international level over the past couple of years. Hussey in particular will be a massive loss, as he is the only Australian in the top ten of the ICC's one-day batting rankings, and he is a renowned finisher who can rescue the side after top-order trouble. However, the selectors decided they could not risk Hussey, who suffered a serious hamstring injury during the one-day series against England that resulted in surgery, and he conceded he would be unlikely to be fit for the first couple of World Cup matches. Hauritz seemed a more likely candidate to make the cut, after he dislocated his shoulder while fielding during the one-day game in Hobart on January 21 and had surgery in a bid to be fit for the World Cup. He bowled in the nets on Monday and sent down a dozen deliveries at what he called 60 to 70%, but it was not enough to convince the selectors that he was worth the risk in such a big tournament. "The National Selection Panel has determined that the best strategy to ensure a successful campaign is for Australia to enter the tournament with a fully fit squad of fifteen from the first game," the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said. "We've applied to the ICC Technical Committee for Callum Ferguson to replace Mike Hussey in the squad. "Callum has an excellent record in one-day international cricket and played well in the one-day game against England in Sydney recently. We think he'll play well in sub-continental conditions. We've also applied to the ICC Technical Committee for Jason Krejza to replace Nathan Hauritz in the squad. Jason toured India with the Australian Test team in 2008 and understands those conditions. We're certain he'll be a key member of our squad." Krejza picked up 2 for 53 in his debut one-day international on Sunday and, although he dragged the ball short too often and threatened to leak big runs, he will enjoy the prospect of returning to India, where he collected 12 wickets on his Test debut in 2008. He was only called up in Perth due to Doherty's back problem, which also ruled him out of replacing Hauritz, while Marsh's hamstring strain meant Ferguson got the nod. However, there was some good news for the Australians, with Ponting and Steven Smith both deemed fit enough to fly to India, while Brad Haddin was also cleared after hurting his knee during the final ODI against England. Smith will share the spin duties with Krejza, while nothing was going to keep Ponting from his fifth World Cup. "Ricky Ponting is going well in his rehabilitation following his finger fracture," the team physio Alex Kountouris said. "He is batting regularly and is expected to transition into unrestricted training soon after the team arrives in India. "Brad Haddin was struck on the knee whilst batting during the seventh ODI against England. During the batting innings the knee became swollen. We expect this to resolve soon after we arrive in India. Steve Smith is making very good progress from the groin injury he sustained in the sixth ODI against England." The Australians fly out on Wednesday and play their first of two warm-up matches on Sunday, against India in Bangalore. Their opening match of the tournament proper is against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on February 21. Squad Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, David Hussey, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Tait.

[Sir john]

Krezja :good:

[Bradman99]

Hussey is a massive, massive blow.. He really is.. However, Ferguson is a good player.

[Raghav_12]

Hussey is a massive, massive blow.. He really is.. However, Ferguson is a good player.

yeah.. Hussey is massive blow..

[Rajiv]

In Hussey, Aus lost a pillar

[spectre]

Oh the superking is not there for the WC. Massive blow for the aussies.

[nitinbwj]

No match finisher for australia now

[Deleted_User_1]

If I were an Aussie, I would be pretty disheartened by the Hussey loss.

[b555]

Hussey, Hauritz out of World Cup Captain Ricky Ponting, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and all rounder Steve Smith, however, have recovered sufficiently from injury to depart for India with the 15-man squad on Wednesday. "Based on the medical advice an application is being made to the ICC to replace both players in the World Cup squad," chief selector Andrew Hilditch said. "(We have) determined that the best strategy to ensure a successful campaign is for Australia to enter the tournament with a fully fit squad of 15 from the first game." Australia's best batsman in the recent Ashes series, Hussey had surgery on the hamstring he ruptured in the first one-dayer against England and was only able to jog for the first time last week. Hauritz had a miserable summer after being dropped for the Ashes then recalled for the one-dayers only to dislocate his shoulder while fielding. Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris had better news about the other three players on the injury list, including Ponting who fractured a finger in the Melbourne Test against England. "Ricky Ponting is going well in his rehabilitation following his finger fracture," he said. "He is batting regularly and is expected to transition into unrestricted training soon after the team arrives in India. "Brad Haddin was struck on the knee whilst batting during the seventh ODI against England. During the batting innings the knee became swollen. We expect this to resolve soon after we arrive in India. "Steve Smith is making very good progress from the groin injury he sustained in the sixth ODI against England." Xavier Doherty and batsman Shaun Marsh were not considered as replacements for Hussey and Hauritz because of injury, Hilditch added. Doherty's back injury made way for Krejza to make an unlikely one-day international debut in the final match against England in Perth on Sunday, where he took 2-53. The 28-year-old off-spinner did, however, take 8-215 on his Test debut against India in Nagpur in November 2008. "Jason toured India with the Australian Test team in 2008 and understands those conditions," added Hilditch. "We're certain he'll be a key member of our squad." Ferguson has more experience of one-dayers but was also handed his chance when Marsh injured his hamstring. "Callum has an excellent record in one-day international cricket and played well in the one-day game against England in Sydney recently," said Hilditch of the 26-year-old, who has averaged 44 runs over 28 one-dayers. "We think he'll play well in sub-continental conditions." Australia, who have won the last three World Cups and four in total, will play warm-up matches against India and South Africa in Bangalore before the tournament starts on February 19. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08022011/58/world-cup-hussey-hauritz-world-cup.html

[Sachinism]

Oooh big blow. Hauritz is irrelevant, don't mind Krejza, but WTF are they doing with the guy, he should have been given a few more games here and there. Voges could have been given a go, he'd get a fair few overs in, can bat and is outstanding in the field

[b555]

hussey :((

[Sachin=GOD]

Very big blow for the Aussies.

[Sid]

Hussey is a massive loss for Aussies,he is the one who holds the middle order together and is a great finisher,but Ferguson is not that bad also

[vaibhav_delhi]

Mr Cricket:(

[saneindian]

The likely Aussie starting 11: Watson, Haddin, Punter, Clarke, Fergusson, David Hussey, Steve Smith, Jhonson, Lee, Krejza, Bollinger The batting is far too dependent on Watson now unless Punter can regain his touch (which looks unlikely given his struggles with injury). Also the awe factor seems to be missing. Bowling too will have issues given how Lee has done in the sub continent on earlier tours. Having said that, the Aussies somehow play at their best in the World irrespective of the setbacks they receive before the tournament. Even Brad Hogg picked up some 35-40 wickets in two world cups!!

[Chalks]

Meh. They will still make the final. Whether they'll win it is a different matter.

[Bradman99]

With Hussey playing I would have been confident, but now I'm not so sure. Still think we'll make the semi's at least though.

[Bradman99]

Veteran Australia batsman Mike Hussey has expressed "disappointment" and "shock" at being left out of the 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Hussey said he had tried to convince selectors that his hamstring injury would repair in time so he could play a role in the tournament. However, Hussey was delivered the news on Tuesday that he and the luckless Nathan Hauritz (dislocated shoulder) were to be replaced by middle-order batsman Callum Ferguson and off-spinner Jason Krejza. "I'm really disappointed and a bit shocked by the news. "I tried to push my case forward. I said I would really push (to be fit) by the second game and definitely right by the third game but it's not a risk the selectors wanted to take. "It's a pretty hard pill to swallow, that's for sure." Hussey pointed to Australia's decision to take Andrew Symonds to 2007 last World Cup when he was recovering from a ruptured biceps tendon in his right arm. Should Mike Hussey have kept his place in the Australia 15? Watch the video at the top of the story and have your say below in our comments section. The devastating all-rounder played in the final preliminary match against South Africa and held his place in the XI as Australia made it three World Cup wins on the trot. "The precedence had sort of been set at the last one with Andrew Symonds. He came in for the third or fourth game and played a really big part in our team. "I was hoping that it would be the same sort of thing for me, they'd give me every chance to have a crack at it at least." Hussey is not the only one irked by the decision to leave him out. His Melbourne-based surgeon was barely consulted about the batsman's progress, he said. "He's really disappointed with their decision as well," Hussey said. "This just shows you can't look too far ahead ... it can all end pretty quickly."

Are the selectors crazy? To treat our best one day player (along with Watson) in this manner doesn't seem right. I can't agree with the decision, if he is fit for the later stages, that is enough.. He is a match winner and this for me is yet another mistake, in a series of blunders the selectors have made over the past few years.. Joke..

[Sid]

Are the selectors crazy? To treat our best one day player (along with Watson) in this manner doesn't seem right. I can't agree with the decision' date=' if he is fit for the later stages, that is enough.. He is a match winner and this for me is yet another mistake, in a series of blunders the selectors have made over the past few years.. Joke..[/quote'] Isnt your team's chairman of selectors Mr. Greg Chappel :hehe: