November 15 Friday 2002
Australia A hope to keep beleaguered England on the ropes

HOBART: Australia A have no doubt about their job over the next three days -- keep the English cricketers on the ropes. Coming off a first Test drubbing, the tourists' problems compounded here on Thursday with fresh concerns about the fitness of key allrounder Andrew Flintoff.

But the tourists on Thursday night included Flintoff in their team to face Australia A after he underwent scans. Flintoff, who is recovering from a hernia operation and was sent away for the scan after reporting groin soreness while bowling in the nets on Thursday, was given the okay to play in good news for the battered tourists.

Fast bowler Steve Harmison, who is recovering from shin splints, was included in the 12 for the match. Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood, who joined the squad last week to replace injured pacemen Darren Gough and Simon Jones, were also named. Skipper Jimmy Maher said he was keen to use the Hobart match to continue Australia's dominance over England.

"I know (Test captain) Steve Waugh would be very keen for us to continue to dominate," Maher said. "Obviously, we were very dominant in Brisbane, but cricket's a funny game. "It can come back and bite you as soon as you let your guard down, so we'll worry about our own game and hope that's good enough to keep England where they are at the moment."

After a laid-back three days, England had a solid session in the nets on Thursday. Flintoff, who missed the Brisbane Test with continuing problems from a hernia operation, bowled.

But physiotherapist Kirk Russell said Flintoff experienced pain in the right side of his groin and was sent off for a soft tissue scan. The other England quicks in line for the Hobart match -- particularly Steve Harmison, who also missed Brisbane through injury -- put plenty of energy into the session.

The inclusion of seasoned batsmen Maher, Greg Blewett and Matthew Elliott in Australia A has been criticised by Victorian coach David Hookes. Coach and national selector Allan Border said the makeup was an issue and the selectors had tried to work out exactly what it should become.

"Talk to the players and they want Australia A to be the next best, they rate it that highly," the former Australian captain said. "Once they get picked for Australia A they see that as a real indication that they're almost next cab off the rank."

Border said it was used for that purpose, but also for development and selectors could use it as they saw fit from year to year. "We might have different circumstances that come up. We might want to pick the next best side because we have a World Cup coming up. "Other times it might be just as beneficial for selectors to look at other players."

Even Friday's team may not necessarily be next best, with young off-spinner Nathan Hauritz preferred to experienced leggie Stuart MacGill. Border said there'd been a couple of spin options, including MacGill.

"We didn't feel like we wanted to expose MacGill to England at this stage," he said. "We'll keep him up our sleeve if required. "Just because a player is not here, it doesn't mean he's not in our thoughts."

Australia A: Jimmy Maher (captain), Greg Blewett, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Elliott, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Martin Love, Ashley Noffke, Marcus North, Brad Williams, Shannon Tubb (12th man).

England: Marcus Trescothick (captain), Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Robert Key, John Crawley, Craig White, Andrew Flintoff, Alex Tudor, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Chris Silverwood, Steve Harmison (12th man to be named).