MacGill recalled for fourth Orange Test
Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen a 12-man squad for the fourth Orange Test match against England, beginning in Melbourne on 26 December.
Australian Cricket Board
22-Dec-2002
Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen a 12-man squad for the fourth Orange Test match against England, beginning in Melbourne on 26 December.
The squad is:
| STATE | AGE | CAPS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Waugh (captain) | NSW | 37 | 154 |
| Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain) | WA | 31 | 37 |
| Andrew Bichel | QLD | 32 | 10 |
| Jason Gillespie | SA | 27 | 37 |
| Matthew Hayden | QLD | 31 | 36 |
| Justin Langer | WA | 32 | 57 |
| Brett Lee | NSW | 26 | 25 |
| Darren Lehmann | SA | 32 | 8 |
| Stuart MacGill | NSW | 31 | 17 |
| Damien Martyn | WA | 31 | 31 |
| Glenn McGrath | NSW | 32 | 90 |
| Ricky Ponting | TAS | 28 | 62 |
The squad shows just one change from the one that secured a record eighth successive Ashes series in Perth in early December, with New South Wales leg-spinner Stuart MacGill being recalled in place of injured fellow leg-spinner Shane Warne.
If MacGill plays it will be his first Test since taking 7-174 against South Africa in Sydney in January, although he was part of the Travelex tour of South Africa in February and March 2002.
The 31 year-old has an outstanding Test record with 82 wickets from 17 matches at an average of 25.01 and with a strike-rate of a wicket every 50.4 balls.
His record against England is equally impressive with 27 wickets in four Tests in the corresponding series four years ago. That made him the leading wicket-taker on either side, and the haul included his best innings (7-50) and match figures (12-107) in the final Test of the series in Sydney.
MacGill played county cricket for Nottinghamshire during the winter of 2002 and took 40 wickets from only six first-class matches at a strike-rate of a wicket every 34.1 deliveries.
This summer he has 20 wickets from six first-class matches for the New South Wales Blues.
Commenting on MacGill's recall, NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said: "Stuart is the logical replacement for Shane Warne.
"He is a high-class performer with a big-match temperament, something that is shown by his figures in Test matches, and he has an outstanding record against England.
"We are delighted to be able to call on someone of his ability as we look to continue our good form in this series."
Australia leads the series 3-0 after victories in Brisbane (384 runs), Adelaide (innings and 51 runs) and Perth (innings and 48 runs).
Following the match in Melbourne, the final Orange Test of the summer will be played at Sydney (2 - 6 January 2003).
Tickets for the fourth Orange Test match are still available and can be purchased through Ticketmaster7 on 1300 13 61 22 or at www.ticketmaster7.com.au
The Test squad will assemble in Adelaide on Monday 23 December.