Ponting denies keeping Lee, Mitch out in preparation for Windies series
October 28th, 2009 - 1:18 pm ICT by ANINagpur, Oct. 28 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has denied reports that he is keeping injured fast bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson out of the Nagpur ODI against India to give them sufficient rest in preparation for the home series against the West Indies.
‘Their injuries are severe enough to keep them out of the game tomorrow. It’s not a resting thing at all. If I felt we could play those guys and get them through the game [we would]. Being the second game of the series and having a good win in the first game, it would have been nice to rock around [with them] again,’ The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.
Ponting further said he was optimistic about Lee and Johnson recovering in time for Saturday’s match in Delhi.
‘They’re probably better than we hoped. They’re actually not that bad. We will have had a few days since they hurt themselves until the third game - close enough on a week - and hopefully they’ve responded well enough by then to be in contention,’ he said.
Australia’s bowling depth will be tested against India at Nagpur.
The team management is likely to rope in either Ben Hilfenhaus or Doug Bollinger as cover for Lee, out with an elbow injury, and possibly Johnson, who rolled his ankle in the first match. (ANI)
- No room for both Tait and Lee in Oz WC squad - Jan 14, 2011
- Pace bowler Harris gives selectors six screeching reasons to pick him for Adelaide - Dec 01, 2010
- Henriques called as cover for injured Lee, Johnson - Oct 27, 2009
- India look to draw level against injury-hit Australia - Oct 27, 2009
- Australia still a force to reckon with in ODIs (Team Profile, World Cup Countdown) - Feb 07, 2011
- No more favourites, Australia begin their title defence Monday - Feb 20, 2011
- Ponting aside, Oz tour selectors face batting order debate - Oct 24, 2009
- Lee's Test hopes will hinge on first class performance: Ponting - Nov 11, 2009
- Lee, Tait recalled for first ODI against England - Jan 11, 2011
- McGrath backs Ponting to lead Australia to an Ashes victory - Nov 07, 2010
- Hastings a surprise selection in Australia World Cup squad - Jan 18, 2011
- Ponting lavishes praise on pacers - Feb 25, 2011
- Lee's mystery elbow injury threatens Test comeback - Oct 27, 2009
- Lee left out of Oz Twenty20 squad - Oct 25, 2010
- Right spearheads vital for beating Poms in Ashes, says Brett Lee - Oct 24, 2010
Tags: australian cricket captain, bollinger, brett lee, captain ricky ponting, contention, elbow injury, few days, first game, match, mitchell johnson, morning herald, nagpur odi, ricky, rope, second game, sydney morning herald, team management, third game, those guys, west indies