Grassy Gabba looms as Tait's playground - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Grassy Gabba looms as Tait's playground

By Daniel Brettig 08/02/2007 10:30:25 PM Comments (0)

An understrength Queensland and a generously grassed Gabba wicket beckon for South Australian World Cup aspirant Shaun Tait as he fights for a ticket to the Caribbean from Friday.

The Pura Cup meeting of the bottom two sides may not last long, with both teams struggling with the bat this season and a deck favouring the quicks.

A low-scoring affair will suit Tait, who remains the major rival for New South Welshman Stuart Clark in the search for the final position in Australia's cup squad.

Clark claimed 1-47 from 10 overs in the Blues' limited overs loss to Western Australia, and is thought to be marginally behind Tait in the race to the West Indies.

"I think that's what it is from what I have heard and the way it looks; I suppose it is between us two, you never know," Tait said.

"To be fair Stuart would be stiff to miss out as well because he has obviously done a great job for the country in the past 12 months.

"Mitchell Johnson has done pretty well the last couple of weeks for Australia, taken some handy wickets, took a four-for in Adelaide so it could go any way really."

Redbacks captain Darren Lehmann, himself returning to the side after a hamstring tear, will be glad to employ a fired up Tait alongside Jason Gillespie and Paul Rofe.

Wrist spinner Cullen Bailey will add variety, as will allrounder Nathan Adcock, in the squad ahead of underperforming Cricket Australia contract-holder Daniel Cullen.

"Darren last year made a 100 in Brisbane and probably has every year before that as well," Tait said of his captain.

"There's a bit of stability there in the middle order and it should be good - the wicket should do a bit for the fast bowlers."

Overcast skies greeted both teams as they trained for the final time on Thursday, Queensland weighing up whether to play untried batsman Greg Moller or spinner/batsman Chris Simpson.

Either way, it will be one of the weakest Bulls line-ups of recent times, with Martin Love and Michael Kasprowicz out injured, and Shane Watson, Matthew Hayden, and Andrew Symonds (before he tore a bicep) with the national team.

Queensland: Jimmy Maher (capt), Andy Bichel, Ryan Broad, Daniel Doran, Chris Hartley, James Hopes, Greg Moller, Ashley Noffke, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Nathan Rimmington, Chris Simpson (12th man tba).

South Australia: Darren Lehmann (capt), Nathan Adcock, Cullen Bailey, Jason Borgas, Mark Cosgrove, Shane Deitz, Matthew Elliott, Jason Gillespie, Daniel Harris, Ryan Harris, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait (12th man tba).

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