Gillespie out of Boxing Day Test

Injury has closed a door on Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie's chances of playing in the Second Test against South Africa, but opened others for Andy Bichel and Brad Williams in a dramatic turn of events in Melbourne today.

Gillespie, who had been enjoying the least interrupted phase of a career that has persistently been plagued by injuries, was shattered today when pain in his right shoulder curtailed any chance of an appearance at the MCG on Boxing Day.

The South Australian speedster, preparing for his 17th consecutive Test, had been suffering soreness after last week's First Test in Adelaide and was unable to bowl with freedom at a practice session at the Junction Oval this morning.

He left the session early and was taken to a Melbourne hospital to undergo an MRI scan.

His place in the eleven is now almost certain to be taken by Queensland fast bowler Andy Bichel, who has been twelfth man in three of the four Tests that Australia has played at home this season. Bichel's last Test appearance came in the corresponding match - against West Indies - exactly 12 months ago.

The Australian selectors also called Western Australian paceman Williams into the 12-man squad to cover for the absence of Gillespie.

Though he has also suffered a series of injury setbacks over recent seasons, Williams is one of the quickest bowlers in Australia. Significantly, the strongly-built right armer claimed three wickets in a lethal spell in an ING Cup match against Victoria in Melbourne yesterday.

For Gillespie's part, this is the latest blow in a cruel run with injury that began in just his second Test. That problem - a serious back strain, incurred in bowling against West Indies in 1996-97 - then culminated in stress fractures late on the 1997 Ashes tour of England, condemning him to several months on the sidelines.

Soreness in his hip delayed his comeback, before a bruised heel and a niggling ankle injury ensured that further months were spent convalescing.

A groin strain, further problems with his heel, and back spasms were then among the catalogue of ailments that plagued him during 1998-99 in the lead-up to an intense recovery through the winter of 1999.

He was chosen in the Australian squad to tour Sri Lanka in late 1999, and performed brilliantly in the series of one-day international matches played at the beginning of that tour. Only a month later, though, he was unwittingly involved in an horrific on-field collision with Steve Waugh that left him with a badly broken leg as well as a broken wrist.

He returned to the Test arena for last season's Second Test against West Indies at Perth. Until today, he hasn't had cause to miss a game thereafter.