Australia are yet to make a call on the fitness of key bowlers Mitchell Starc and 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 Starc has been in excellent form but missed training on Thursday with a gastro complaint while left-arm wrist-spinner Hogg also skipped the session because of a headache.
Australia have Clint McKay and Ben Hilfenhaus waiting in the wings to replace Starc if required, but 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.
“I’m not sure. We’ll pass that bridge when we come to it,” Bailey said.
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.
Australia were due to train on Friday afternoon Australian eastern time.
“From all reports Starcy was certainly on the mend,” Bailey said on Friday.
“We’ll make a call.
“We’re certainly not the only team that has had to deal with that in the last few days.
“That’s something we’ll have to adjust to.”
Australia coach Mickey Arthur wants his side to go on the attack against West Indies spinner Sunil Narine and bowl tight lines to master blaster Chris Gayle to keep his big shots on ice.
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.
Arthur has seen Gayle’s wrecking-ball style first-hand as his T20 coach with Western Australia.
“No room. Any little bit of length is hit away and you’ve got to get your lengths right because if it’s back of a length he hits you over mid-wicket,” Arthur said.
