Stuart Clark's hopes were dashed once again as the Cricket Australia selectors decided to give the younger Doug Bollinger his first taste for Test cricket.
doug bollinger ponting happy
There were no surprises in the Australian squad announced for the Test series against the West Indies beginning next Thursday. In fact, apart from the decision to leave out Clark, the squad was pretty predictable.
Clark has lost his spot despite fancying his chances as the selection chief, Andrew Hilditch, has stated that Bollinger's performances in the recent matches in the shorter version have been behind the inspired decision to give him the chance to prove himself in the Test arena going into the Ashes.
Australia are clearly stung by the Ashes loss in England earlier this year and while there is plenty of cricket between the next encounter between the traditional rivals, Australia are leaving no stone unturned towards preparing for it.
However, Clark is not out of the reckoning yet. And Michael Hussey's performance in India, albeit in the ODI arena, have encouraged the selectors to persist with him even though his situation looked half and half before. Michael Clarke is expected to take his place in the line up as well.
Brad Haddin will also come back into the picture after Graham Manou and Tim Paine were filling his position in the Test and ODI respectively. Shane Watson also retains his place as opener even Phil Hughes was hoping for a miracle and not everyone is inclined to agree with the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, that Shane Watson is the world's best all rounder presently.
Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Simon Katich, Shane Watson
Skipper Gayle's Series Down Under in Jeopardy After He Returns Home
Brett Lee May Weigh Retirement Option to Spend Time with Son Preston
Brett Lee May Not Make Cut for First Test against the West Indies
McGrath Believes Brett Lee Can Deliver
Australia Struggle For Spinner Even as Warne Seeks Replacement
Ponting Feels Winning in India is Like Winning the World Cup!
Michael Clarke Will be in a Race to Get Fit for West Indies Series
Wi Cricket Saga: Gayle Named Captain as WICB Name Full Strength Squad Against Australia
Read All About the West Indies cricket saga to its culmination:
CL T20 Final: NSW And Lee Outdo T & T
CT Teams Group A- West Indies: Less Said the Better
ICC Keeps Back Door Open for West Indies for ICC Champions Trophy
Akram: Players Association Won't Work in India, Pakistan
OZ Want Full Strength WI; WIPA Making Adjustments
Cont'r'act Problems: Dyson Reasons His Not Signing WICB Contract
WIPA Nearly Ruined ICC World Twenty20?
WICB Violating ICC, Claims FICA
WICB Throws Up More Catches, Explain Dyson Sacking
WICB Obligated to Pick Best WI Team
WICB Stick to Second String Squad for ICC Champions Trophy
WICB Obligated to Pick Best WI Team
WICB Believes Cricketers Playing Hard to Get
WI BANG ODI 2 - Beaten by Bangladesh Again!
West Indies Stung by Loss, Comments
WI Crisis: Strike Over, Players Still Out
WI Bang T 2 Day 4: Bangladesh Win History Making Series
WI Bang T 2 Day 3: WI Go About Setting Bangladesh Enticing Target
WI Bang T 2 Day 1: Bang KO WI Despite Dowlin
WI Bang T 2 Day 1 Lunch: Shakib leads, WI Hang on Despite Dispute
Bang WI Test 2 Preview: WIPA Demand Apology, as do WICB
WI Bang T1 Day 5: Iqbal, Mahmuddullah fashion Rare Test win
WI Bang T 1 Day 3 Stumps: WICB- WIPA Row Continues, WI in Control
WI Bang T1 Preview: WI Names Replacement squad
West Indies Players Refuse Test Series Against Bangladesh
Reluctant Captain: Gayle in Trouble over Remarks on Status of Tests, Captaincy
Eng WI ODI 3: Everybody Wants to Go Home!
Windies' Presence, KP's Career on the Rocks?
ICC World T20: Windies Knock Down Australian Might
T2: England Complete Rout in Wisden Trophy
WI Cricketers: As Mercurial As Their Cricket
Troubled England Take on Transitional WI
Test 1: Gayle’s Gala Men Humiliate Strauss and Company
Chris Takes on KP Over Shiv Remarks
Twenty20 Riches: Prosperity in the Time of Recession
England Humbled by Stanford Superstars
Twenty20 Cricket only a source entertainment: Lara
Captaining the side was the toughest job, says Lara
Related Stories
Australia Announced 15 Member Team for India Tour for Test Series with No.1 Test Team
Australia have announced their Test squad for the India tour that will see Australia take on the no.1 Test team. Announcing the team, the convenor of selectors, Andrew Hilditch spoke of Australia's challenge ahead, "India is ranked number one...
PCB Finds No Sponsors for NZ Test Series; BCCI Finds No Takers for Indian Team!
Both neighbouring cricket boards seem to have a similar problem of finding sponsors though their cash revenues are very different. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the BCCI are facing similar issues that of finding sponsors. While...
Indian team announced, no place for Sehwag, Harbhajan
Finally, its turn for Veeru to sit out and think what went wrong and where? The Indian team for Ireland and England tours has been announced, sans Virendra Sehwag and spinner Harbhajan Singh. The other players who have been dropped are Munaf...
West Indies Players Refuse Test Series Against Bangladesh
The West Indies cricket plunged further and deeper into controversy, this time as players threaten to boycott the home series against Bangladesh altogether. Dinanath Ramnarine, the president of the WIPA (West Indies Players Association),...
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
