Australian speedstar and ICC Emerging Player of the Year Shaun Tait is bowling towards a boxing day test cap against India at the MCG.
Tait’s first Pura Cup outing has sent a sure fire message to selectors taking ten wickets this match claiming 7/29 (16.1) in the second innings against Queensland destroying them for 137.
Mitchell Johnson on the other hand took 2/127 in the first innings but has 2/10 in the second but South Australia only require 30 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
For mind Johnson would be first to leave the Australian attack to make way for the inform Tait but Ashley Noffke continues to apply the pressure taking bags of wickets and scoring loads of runs.
It may in fact come down to the Chappell-Hadlee series where Tait and Noffke will hopefully be tried. For mind the two are bowling better than the incumbents (Stuart Clark and Johnson) but Brett Lee will obviously spearhead the attack on boxing day.
With Stuart MacGill’s injury concerns, the Australian selectors have publicly stated they may consider going with four quicks. Australia still need a spin option and Brad Hogg is more than capable of stepping up and filling MacGill’s shoes should he not be fit.
Hogg provides more to the Australian team in the field and with the bat than MacGill. His wrong’un is also well respected in cricketing circles and should be given his chance.
On November 23, I stated it was Doug Bollinger putting the pressure on the selectors. He is doing his best to keep his name on the selectors lips as is Nathan Bracken taking a few wickets.
I still think Tait and Noffke are ahead of Johnson and Clark at the moment. They are bowling better, getting wickets and looking dangerous… give them a go!
