Hayden doubtful for First Test
With less than 48 hours left before the start of the First Digicel Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Australia’s main opening batsman Matthew Hayden is doubtful.Captain Ricky Ponting described his chances of taking his usual opening slot as 50/50. "He’s probably 50/50 at best, he was supposed to be fully tested today, that didn’t happen,” Ponting reported to the media at the series launch media conference at Sabina Park without explaining the reason for the opener not undergoing the fitness test.
Hayden, a veteran of 94 Tests, is suffering from an achilles problem which prevented him from taking part in Australia’s solitary warm up game over the last weekend in Trelawny. The big left hander is a critical component of the mighty Australian batting line up, best illustrated by his 8242 Test runs at an astonishing average of 53.51 and inclusive of a former world record of 380 for the highest individual score.“He has actually woken up a lot better today (Tuesday) than he has in the last two days, if he wakes up well tomorrow (Wednesday) they will probably do some sort of testing tomorrow but you’d have to say not playing last week and having limited preparation for the Test, he’s probably 50/50 at best,” Ponting emphasised.
Ponting explained that the team physiotherapist Alex Kontouri who has been treating Katich thinks that Hayden’s condition is improving and Hayden’s fate will be determined based on an assessment of the injury on the day before the First Digicel Test which begins at Sabina Park on Thursday May 22nd.
Ponting also revealed that the Australian camp has already thought about the repercussions of Hayden missing the First Digicel Test.
The Australian captained said that left hander Simon Katich who has completed 23 Tests thus far will open the batting while Brad Hodge will bat at number five.
Katich made 97 in the warm up game against the Jamaica Select XI.
The Australians are already missing vice captain Michael Clarke who remained in Australia to attend the funeral of his fiancé’s father.
Hodge with five Tests to his name is not an original member of the squad, he was brought in as a replacement for Clarke after he pulled out.
Phil Jacques will open the batting with either Hayden or Katich while Ponting, Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds will make up the rest of the batting line up with support from debutant wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who will get his first taste of Test cricket following the recent retirement of the legendary wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist.
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