Australia and West Indies suffer injury blows

West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour of Australia because of injuries to his left hip and back.

The 25-year-old bowled only nine overs on the opening day of the first Test, which the Windies lost by an innings.

He will return home, with a decision on a replacement expected on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, uncapped fast bowler Clinton McKay has been called into Australia's squad for the second Test on Friday, following an injury to Ben Hilfenhaus.

Having claimed 5-70 in his first Test on Australian soil as the hosts won the opening match of the series, Hilfenhaus succumbed to a long-term knee injury.

Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: "Ben Hilfenhaus has had a widely-reported knee tendon injury that was sore during the recent one-day international series in India and the first Test at the Gabba.

"The demands of Test cricket and the subsequent increased workload have made it harder to manage Ben's injury, so it has been decided that the best course of action is for him to miss the Adelaide Test.

"He will undergo an intense period of rehabilitation over the next two weeks with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test in Perth." [starting on 16 December]

Victoria fast bowler McKay, 26, played in two one-day internationals on the recent tour of India, taking 3-59 on his debut and 0-44 in his second match.

"Clint impressed all with his performances in India with the one-day squad and with his bowling for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this year," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch explained.

"We also feel his style of bowling will be well-suited to the conditions in Adelaide, should he be selected in the starting 11."

There was some consolation for the beleaguered West Indians with news that key batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is expected to be fit for the second Test, having missed the first match due to back trouble.

Australia squad: R Ponting (c), M Clarke, D Bollinger, B Haddin (wkt), N Hauritz, M Hussey, M Johnson, S Katich, C McKay, M North, P Siddle, S Watson.
West Indies squad: C Gayle (c), A Barath, S Benn, D Bravo, S Chanderpaul, N Deonarine, T Dowlin, B Nash, D Ramdin (wkt), R Rampaul, K Roach, D Sammy, R Sarwan, G Tonge.

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‘Not easy to make Playing XI’

In the absence of Brett Lee, Ben Hilfenhaus shared the new ball in the Nagpur ODI. He could be doing the same at Kotla on Saturday.

He spoke to Joshua Nath. Excerpts:
Joshua Nath: Ben, the last time you came to India in 2007, you played only a T20 match. How difficult it is to make the playing XI in the presence of Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson?
Ben Hilfenhaus: To be honest, it won't be easy and I am well aware of that. This team that won the Champions Trophy is bowling really well as a unit and it is going to be hard to break through easily. May be the only way to get an opportunity is if the team rests someone or someone gets injured.
JN: Which is your favourite brand of cricket, Tests, ODIs or T20s?
BH: I do not mind all of them to be honest. They all have there own different challenges. T20 is more of hit-and-miss. Tests are a game of patience. It is a great test of your skills. I enjoy all three forms of cricket.
JN: How easy or difficult was the transition for you from the Under-19 Tasmanian team to the main team? How difficult was it to make the national team?
BH: In a way yes, it was quite hard. It was a big step up for a youngster like me to upgrade from under-19 to the Tasmania side. But when you come from the best domestic cricket structure in the world, the qualification to the national side was relatively easier.
JN: Is it good to have a fellow-Tasmanian as a captain?
BH: Well, any Tasmanian in the team is good to have around! We have young Tim Paine as well from Tasmania. So, it's good for Tasmanian cricket as well.
JN: Who was your childhood hero?
BH: It has to be Glenn McGrath.
JN: Any particular player you loved watching?
BH: Well I was more of a player than a watcher, I'd rather be out there playing than watching cricket. But David Boon running around was always fun to watch.

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