Thaindian News

Sydney, Mar. 5 (ANI): Former Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark believes that Victorian fast bowler Peter Siddle would be the ideal replacement for injured Doug Bollinger in the Australian World Cup side, though he admits that Australia is under no obligation to do so.

In a write-up for the Sydney Morning Herald, Clark says that the Australians already have cover in the batting department in the form of South Australian middle-order batsman Callum Ferguson. Tasmanian Tim Paine is a top-order batsman/wicketkeeper and John Hastings is the pace-bowling all-rounder.

“The only uncovered position is the spinning role, but there are three options in Jason Krejza, Steve Smith and David Hussey,” Clark says.

“The most logical choice is to replace a bowler with a bowler. There are two possibilities: Peter Siddle or James Pattinson. Siddle has been in superb form for Victoria, picking up wickets at every opportunity,” Clark adds.

Siddle has picked up eight wickets against New South Wales and showed that he has added subtle variations to go with his pace and aggression, which is crucial on the flat, batting-friendly wickets of the subcontinent.

Pattinson though raw and inexperienced, is capable of bowling with great pace. He has already shown he has of plenty of variety in his armoury and the physical strength to be successful in tough conditions. He has been identified as a bowler of the future.

Clark does not think veteran Mike Hussey will make it to the World Cup squad, as he believes the selectors would like to give him more time to recover from his recent hamstring surgery.

“If I had the choice, I would pick Siddle. I don’t believe Hastings has the potency, and I don’t think Pattinson is quite ready,” Clark concludes. (ANI)