Ashes: Tasmania’s Doherty headed for spin duel with Hauritz
November 15th, 2010 - 5:46 pm ICT by ANISydney, Nov. 15 (ANI): Tasmanian left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty faces a spin bowling shootout with New South Wales off-spinner Nathan Hauritz this week, but his state coach feels he could miss out on the Ashes opener in Brisbane.
The left-armed finger spinner was arguably the surprise pick in the initial 17-man squad for the first Test against England starting in Brisbane on Thursday week.
With skipper Ricky Ponting committing himself to playing a spinner, the performances of Doherty and Hauritz in the Sheffield Shield game commencing at the SCG on Wednesday could prove decisive.
Doherty said: “I guess it’s probably come down to that given the fact that they (the national selectors) will cut it (the squad) back by the end of the week. They are obviously looking at something this week, I guess this week’s performances probably won’t hurt to much.”
Doherty, who broke into the Australian one-day team earlier this season, has a modest career first-class average of 48.80.
He acknowledged his career had taken off in the last few months after at one stage finding himself left out of the Tasmanian team behind rival spinner Jason Krejza.
However Doherty, who turns 28 next Monday, believes he has become a better bowler since breaking back into the Tigers’ four-day team toward the end of last season. (ANI)
- I am not the next Shane Warne, says Doherty - Nov 20, 2010
- Injured Hussey, Hauritz ruled out of Oz World Cup squad - Feb 08, 2011
- Smith 'quite surprised' at dumping of Hauritz for Ashes opener - Nov 21, 2010
- Hauritz' duel with Ponting in Sheffield Shield match could decide his Ashes fate - Nov 17, 2010
- Hauritz says he is a better bowler than Doherty - Nov 16, 2010
- Doherty 'basically shafted' by selectors despite being economical: Bailey - Jan 18, 2011
- Uncapped Doherty, Smith in Oz squad in place of Hauritz for first Ashes Test - Nov 20, 2010
- White to captain Aussies for first time in ODIs - Feb 04, 2011
- Ashes: Swann questions Doherty's call up for Australia - Nov 22, 2010
- Hodge slams Oz selectors for picking 'out-of-form' Johnson for Perth Test - Dec 14, 2010
- Tasmania's Doherty puts his hand up for potential Ashes selection - Nov 18, 2010
- Hauritz doubtful for England series, World Cup - Jan 22, 2011
- Krejza facing David and Goliath showdown on Indian subcontinent - Feb 09, 2011
- Ashes: Pietersen ready to face Doherty test - Nov 22, 2010
- Doherty to replace injured Hauritz for next two ODIs against England - Jan 22, 2011
Tags: brisbane, england, first test, game, left arm, man squad, national selectors, new south wales, ricky, ricky ponting, scg, sheffield shield, skipper, spin bowling, state coach, surprise, sydney nov, tasmania, tigers, xavier