Australia’s mercurial batsmen are failing, Ricky Ponting is nursing a hamstring injury and boom quick Pat Cummins has been ruled out for the season.
In a worrying 24 hours for Australian cricket, their preparations for the Test summer ahead took major hits in four different cities on Friday.
With the top-ranked South Africans looking menacing a week before the first Test at the Gabba, Michael Clarke’s team are sporting a host of concerns – most particularly with their troublesome batting.
Of their top seven, only veteran Mike Hussey has enjoyed a positive warm-up in Sheffield Shield action with 65 for Western Australia against Victoria.
The Australian top five, plus wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade, all disappointed in their first-innings Shield knocks, including Clarke who only made eight on a dire early trip to Brisbane for NSW’s Test big guns.
Explosive opener David Warner (2) and star allrounder Shane Watson (33) were also among the wreckage as the Blues collapsed to 4-52 in the opening hour at Allan Border Field.
All three were out playing forward and edging catches behind the wicket in the first hour of play against a depleted Queensland attack.
Watson at least made it to double figures in his short and destructive 37-ball stay.
Fellow Test bats Ed Cowan (6) and Ponting (5) failed for Tasmania against South Australia late Thursday while Wade scored just eight against WA at the MCG on Friday.
While there are no concerns about Ponting’s form following back-to-back centuries against South Australia and Victoria, there are some surrounding his fitness.
The former captain, 37, has suffered an injury scare with hamstring soreness which has seen him dramatically withdrawn from the last three days of action in Hobart as a precaution.
“If this wasn’t a week out from the first Test, then Ricky would continue with the match, but we don’t want to take that risk,” said Cricket Australia team performance manager Pat Howard.
There is no obvious replacement if Ponting’s damage is more sinister but Victorian Rob Quiney continued his sparkling start to the domestic season by making 85 for Australia A against the Proteas at the SCG, while Phil Hughes failed by playing on for five.
Ponting at least has recent first-class batting form on the board as Warner, Watson and Hussey have all been involved in the Champions League Twenty20, while Clarke has only played club cricket in the previous month.
The batting woes weren’t the only negative for Australia as Sydney-based teenager Cummins was ruled out for a second consecutive Test summer after Friday being diagnosed stress fractures in his lower back.
Cummins, who missed last season’s home Tests with a heel complaint, has been plagued with injury in his short career which has been restricted to just four first-class matches.
Because of his age and his history, Cricket Australia are taking no chances with the tearaway after they initially hoped he’d be fit for the third Test in Perth.
