Tour to india!

[brockley]

Australian cricket

Australian Academy side to tour India

Wisden Cricinfo staff

July 23, 2004



Cricket Australia has announced a 13-man squad to represent the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) on the tour of India where they will pit their skills against an India Academy side and two state teams.

The 13 have been selected from the 26 who just completed a 13-week programme at the Centre in Brisbane. Craig Simmons and Adam Voges, both from Western Australia, and Doug Bollinger, a New South Welshman, have already made their domestic first-class debuts in the Pura Cup competition, whilst Travis Birt, a Tasmanian, and Brad Knowles, from Victoria, have played in the ING Cup one-day competition.

Voges and Bollinger have secured state contracts for the 2004-05 domestic season, whilst Knowles, Tim Paine of Tasmania and Jason Krezja, from New South Wales, have been signed to rookie contracts.

Bennett King, who will coach the side to India, said that the CBCE forms part of the cricket pathway to help talented players refine their skills and prepare for the next step in their career. "Travelling and learning to handle the conditions of the sub-continent is an important element for anyone who wants to play at the highest level," he said. "The experience this trip will provide will be invaluable to the players' development."

The squad
Tom Plant, Craig Simmons, Travis Birt, Ryan Broad, Adam Voges (capt), Jason Krezja, Matthew Harrison, Tim Paine (wk), Daniel Cullen, Brad Knowles, Darren McNees, Doug Bollinger, Brendan Drew.

Schedule


July 28 - 29 2-day match v Indian National Cricket Academy (NCA) U/19, Bangalore

July 31 – August 1 2-day match v Karnataka State CA XI, Bangalore

August 3-4 2-day match v KSCA XI, Bangalore

August 6-7 2-day match v KSCA XI, Bangalore

August 10 1-day match v Tamil Nadu State CA XI, Chennai

August 11 1-day match v TNSCA XI, Chennai

August 13 1-day match v TNSCA XI, Chennai

© Wisden Cricinfo Ltd

 

[Andre]

Dan Cullen from South Australia is an exciting prospect, he has done well in the Cricket Australia Cup and in grade cricket. Greg Chappell rates him highly. Travis Birt looked fairly reckless in his ING Cup game for Tasmania so I will follow his progress with interest.

Brad Knowles and Doug Bollinger are both competent bowlers who should benefit from the tour. Tim Paine is highly rated but was a dead set flop during the under-19 World Cup. Geoff Lawson rates Brendan Drew highly but he hasn't done great things in grade cricket at this stage.

I understand this is a cricket academy tour but I think something like this would be really beneficial to Nathan Hauritz. He was touted as something special, has played a few ODIs but has fallen back into the pack. He needs to learn how to trouble good batsmen at first-class level in order to be considered for Test matches again, and a tour like this would provide him access to batsmen who play spin very well and give him some spinner-friendly pitches that he doesn't get in Queensland.

 

[Craig]

In what you say about Hauritz, maybe it is a case of him going to play in NSW or South Australia, where pitches may suit him.

What happened with Bollinger last season? Injuried?

 

[Andre]

In what you say about Hauritz, maybe it is a case of him going to play in NSW or South Australia, where pitches may suit him.

He won't leave Queensland. He was offered big bikkies to go and play for SA this year, and also this winter, but declinded. Now that his best mate Watson is back, I don't think we will see him moving. Add to that the fact he has grown up playing cricket with Watson, Johnson, Hartley and MacKenzie I just don't think he will ever leave.

What happened with Bollinger last season? Injuried?

Stress fractures of the back. Look for him to come back a better bowler this year.