Bevan in doubt for Grenada one-dayers - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bevan in doubt for Grenada one-dayers

By Michael Crutcher 27/05/2003 01:14:44 PM Comments (0)

Michael Bevan hopes his Caribbean tour isn't over because of a groin injury which has the Australian batsman in doubt for the final one-day matches in Grenada on Friday and Sunday.

Paceman Glenn McGrath is also battling a groin problem while Darren Lehmann is still recovering from a calf injury as the world champions try to stay healthy for the last week of a long stretch of cricket.

Bevan said he is unlikely to play in Friday's sixth match after he was injured while running between the wickets in Sunday's 39-run loss to the Windies in Trinidad.

The 33-year-old hoped he would return for Sunday's tour finale in St George's but team physiotherapist Errol Alcott preferred to wait until later in the week before deciding if Bevan would be fit to play.

McGrath was also hurt on Sunday but batted without a runner while Lehmann showed he was ready to return from a four-match absence by running from the team hotel to Queen's Park Oval.

The Windies won't take any heart from the injuries because the world champions have again proven their depth by marching to a 4-1 series lead.

Young batsman Michael Clarke has scored two half-centuries on tour while Andrew Symonds has continued his transformation into one of Australia's most reliable one-day batsman.

It's a reputation scarcely believable of Symonds just four months ago when he was stumped in a one-day match against England because he carelessly didn't return his foot to the crease.

The dismissal typified the inconsistencies which had prevented the powerful Queenslander from realising his unquestioned talent.

But Ponting believes Symonds has learned to ease himself into innings and the results have flowed, continuing with his quality knock of 77 from 85 balls on Sunday.

Since his forgettable stumping, Symonds has scored 545 runs at an average of 77.8.

"You've just got to look at the way he's playing. He's a totally different player now," Ponting said.

"He seems to be going about things in a completely different manner, he's not being fazed by facing his first 10 balls for one or two runs, and he's working his way into the game and getting himself in.

"Once he does that, as he did again today, he can score very quickly. He's been consistent and he's got his runs quickly, and you can't ask for any more than that."

Symonds arrived in the Caribbean earlier this month knowing he needed a good series to prove his World Cup wasn't just another one-off for the all-rounder.

He has played all five matches so far in the Caribbean, with a good chance to complete the series in Grenada on Friday and Sunday, with scores of 18, 17 not out, 75, 24 and 77.

Symonds admitted he still had to convince selectors he was worthy of Test selection but he must wait for the next Australian summer to prove he can also become consistent in the long game.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news