Australia are yet to make a call on the fitness of in-form spinner Brad Hogg ahead of Saturday night’s crucial World Twenty20 Group B clash with West Indies.
George Bailey’s side enjoyed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Ireland in their opening game on Wednesday, although a loss to Darren Sammy’s Windies would leave the Aussies to sweat on Monday night’s final Group B encounter between the Windies and Ireland.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc has been in excellent form but missed training on Thursday with a gastro complaint while Hogg also skipped the session because of a headache.
Starc bowled in the nets at training on Friday but Hogg was absent with what a team spokesman described as flu-like symptoms.
Left-arm finger spinner Xavier Doherty, who was in Hobart earlier this week for the birth of his daughter Scarlett, was back bowling in the nets at Colombo’s Colts ground on Friday as doubts linger over Hogg’s availability.
A team spokesman said the Australians were hopeful Hogg would be fit to play and his condition was improving.
Australia have Clint McKay and Ben Hilfenhaus waiting in the wings to replace Starc if required, but skipper George Bailey says he hasn’t thought what might happen if the 22-year-old NSW quick is unable to take his place in the side.
McKay was in good touch in Australia’s two warm-up games, playing in place of Starc and Pat Cummins who were rested for one match each.
Meanwhile, Australia coach Mickey Arthur wants his side to go on the attack against West Indies spinner Sunil Narine.
Australia’s struggles against Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal – who took six wickets at an average of 8.67 in the three-game series in Dubai earlier this month – have underlined to Arthur the need to have wickets in hand.
“He (Narine) is always going to be a factor, like Ajmal and Ajantha Mendis for Sri Lanka,” Arthur said.
“If we can put him under just a little bit of pressure and that’s something we haven’t been able to do with the spinners, we’ve always been a couple of wickets down.
“You’re always able to tell the ilk of a bowler when he is under pressure.”
Narine claimed 11 Australian wickets at 14.45 in the one-day series in March but was wicket-less in the two-game T20 series which was split one-all.
