Stewart to miss match against Australian XI
Posted: Friday December 18, 1998 01:42 PM
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Stewart will miss a four-day match against Australian XI Laurence Griffiths/Allsport |
HOBART, Australia (Reuters) -- Captain Alec Stewart will miss
England's four-day match against an Australian XI containing 10
test players starting in Hobart on Saturday.
Former captain Michael Atherton will lead the Australian
second side while Warren Hegg will take over the wicketkeeping
duties.
The match, described by former Australian captain Allan
Border as the "sixth test," is England's last before the
fourth test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December
26.
England have rested several key players for the match
including vice-captain Nasser Hussain and pace bowlers Darren
Gough and Alan Mullally.
England manager Graham Gooch said the tourists were keen to
do well ahead of the Melbourne test.
"It's a game we need to win to get confidence," Gooch
said.
"We need a good performance so we are in the right heart
for the fourth test."
The powerful Australian XI side, which Border is coaching,
includes Matthew Elliott and Greg Blewett, who have both scored
test centuries against England.
"With the quality of the players we've got, it's basically
the sixth test of the summer," Border said.
"Our blokes are going to approach it with that much
intensity. They have plenty to play for. When those little
windows open up a bit, these are the guys who are going to jump
through it."
Teams:
England - Michael Atherton (captain), Mark Butcher, John
Crawley, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Ben Hollioake, Warren
Hegg, Dominic Cork, Alex Tudor, Angus Fraser, Peter Such
Australian XI - Darren Lehmann (captain), Adam Gilchrist,
Matthew Elliott, Greg Blewett, Corey Richards, Stuart Law,
Michael Bevan, Brendon Julian, Gavin Robertson, Paul Reiffel,
Michael Kasprowicz.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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