McGrath ruled out of second final
SYDNEY - Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has been ruled out of thesecond tri-series final against England at the MCG on Saturday.
Will Swanton
23-Jan-2003
SYDNEY - Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has been ruled out of the
second tri-series final against England at the MCG on Saturday.
Team physiotherapist Errol Alcott tonight decided McGrath, struggling to
overcome a lower back strain, should not travel to Melbourne tomorrow
with the rest of Australia's buoyant one-day side.
Allrounder Shane Watson and batsman Jimmy Maher joined McGrath and
fellow speedster Jason Gillespie on the sideline for tonight's first
final, won in a canter by Australia by ten wickets.
Watson was ruled out with the same ailment as McGrath, while Maher
succumbed to a hamstring strain suffered during the warm-up for
Tuesday's clash with Sri Lanka at the MCG.
Both will be considered for the second and most likely last final of the
series.
Gillespie is bowling in the nets again after damaging elbow ligaments in
a fall during the fifth Ashes Test, but he's not yet ready for action.
Alcott is taking a softly-softly approach to Australia's walking
wounded, gladly leaving them out of the finals because the far more
important World Cup is starting next month.
The only good injury news for Australia today was the return of leg
spinner Shane Warne from the dislocated shoulder he suffered on December
15.
Warne made his comeback just one day after announcing his one-day
retirement, effective after the World Cup, taking 1-28 from ten
promising overs.