16 November, 2009
Victorian skipper Cameron White is confident the Bushrangers' phenomenal fast bowling depth will again hold the state in good stead when its second-string bowling attack takes on Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield clash, starting at the MCG on Tuesday.
The reigning Shield champions will field a depleted team for their first home match of the first-class season with not only their number one fast bowler in Peter Siddle resting ahead of the upcoming first Test against the West Indies but with fellow quicks Damien Wright, Shane Harwood, Dirk Nannes and Steven Gilmour all sidelined due to injury.
And the Bushrangers will also be without their number one batsman in Brad Hodge, who has been ruled out with hamstring soreness sustained while scoring a hundred against the Warriors during the Vics' Ford Ranger Cup win at the MCG on Saturday.
While Hodge will be a hard man to replace given his long experience and stellar form already this summer (three centuries already including a majestic 195 in the Vics' only previous Shield game this season against South Australia) - replacing the injured bowlers is a far easier task.
Such is the Vics' bowling depth these days that they will still field a potent attack against the Warriors led by Clint McKay - fresh from having made his Australian debut recently on the one-day tour of India - as well as former England Test paceman Darren Pattinson plus all-rounder Andrew McDonald and leg spinner Bryce McGain - both former Australian representatives - as well as in-form all-rounder John Hastings.
Skipper Cameron White says the Bushrangers are lucky to have such bowling depth believing that has been the key to the state's success in recent times after the Vics made all three domestic finals last season.
"Obviously the injuries are never a good thing but you have got to deal with those and we are lucky we have got some depth in the squad," he said.
"We have always had lots of fast bowlers which is always handy and that is the key to winning all forms of competition but especially four-day cricket."
"And we have still got one or two more young fast bowlers that can come in and do a job while guys like Dirk Nannes and Damien Wright are on the backburner due to injury."
While Nannes and Wright should be back in the Vics side before Christmas, Harwood has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury which will require surgery.
But White is confident the 35-year-old will eventually make it back to state cricket despite suffering such a severe injury at the veteran stage of his career.
"With some of the older players if they can have a bit of time off they can often come back and play for a couple of years after that so let’s hope Shane can do that," White said.
Western Australia, which like Victoria has just two points under its belt in this year's competition but has already played two matches (one more than the Bushrangers), has fewer concerns heading into Tuesday's game.
While national team regulars Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson won't play - to ensure their availability for the first Test against the West Indies - the Warriors will welcome back Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges, who were also on the recent one-day tour of India while skipper Marcus North has recovered from a knock to his wrist during Saturday's Ford Ranger Cup clash and will play.
Teams:
Victoria: Cameron White (capt), John Hastings, David Hussey, Nick Jewell
Lloyd Mash, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clinton McKay, Darren Pattinson, Robert Quiney, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade
Western Australia: Marcus North (capt), David Bandy, Brett Dorey, Michael Hogan, Steve Magoffin, Josh Mangan, Shaun Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi, Luke Towers, Adam Voges