Australia to rest key players for one-dayers

By Malcolm Conn

SYDNEY, DEC. 8. The gulf between Test and one-day cricket is likely to widen further this summer, with Australia's most valuable players rested from some limited overs matches to protect their Test careers.

As a rampaging Australia strives to push its world record number of Test wins beyond 12, the pure form of the game will be protected by rotating key players through a squad of 13 or 14 in the Carlton series next month.

One-day cricket generates about 60 per cent of the Australian Cricket Board's gate revenue and matches involving Australia are often sold out in all states except at the expansive Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Yet there is an acceptance amongst the team hierarchy that their trumps will simply not survive the current hectic schedule without careful man management. That has already began, with the priceless pace trio Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie told to rest from this weekend's round of Mercantile Mutual one- day matches.

In little more than 16 months Australia is committed to play 22 Tests and as many as 35 one-day games across four different countries.

Immediately following this home Test and one-day series Australia must play five one-day matches and three Tests in India, a full triangular one-day series and five Tests in England, a home Test and one-day series against New Zealand and South Africa then three Tests and at least six one-dayers in South Africa.

It is no surprise then that Glenn McGrath, hero of the moment following a sensational first two Tests, will almost certainly find himself out of the team in a month - for his own good.

He began the season with a slight shoulder problem after a full winter of county cricket with Worcester.

Australia's most important fast bowler is a prime candidate to be rested in rotation, a concept enthusiastically endorsed by national selector Allan Border on Friday.

``The players don't like it but maybe it's just one of those things,'' said Border, who sometimes stood down from one- day matches during hectic schedules towards the end of his 273- game limited overs career even though he was captain.

``In the case of a McGrath, it might be better to keep him fresh by giving him a break every now and then. I think they are starting to get a bit more attuned to it. There are a few players who play a lot of cricket and we've just got to monitor that.''

Others likely to be packed in cotton wool at stages during the Carlton series against the West Indies and Zimbabwe, beginning inside five weeks, are wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and captain Steve Waugh. It would be the most sensible of ironies of see Gilchrist appointed Test captain next week in place of the injured Waugh then briefly out of the side altogether next month.

The keeper-batsman, one of Australia's most potent, counter- attacking weapons, faces a particularly tough time during the mid-February to early April tour of India, when temperatures soar.

It is particularly demanding for a gloveman not only because of difficult conditions generally but the hard work involved in standing up to spinners most of the time on slow, turning wickets.

There will also be some debate over whether Steve Waugh will have to stand aside at some stage or will he be able to stand up through the majority of a programme given his soft tissue injury history.

The latest problem, which has forced him out of the Adelaide Test, is part of a continuing struggle which has hindered him off and on for some years.

Border said there would be no attempt at radical changes. ``You wouldn't carry more than 13 or 14 in a squad. It won't be wholesale, four or five in or out.

``It'll be more monitoring on how a player is going. If he's got a few niggles give him a game off so he's got three or four days rest. It may be that we don't take a fast bowler on the long flight to Perth.

``We haven't really discussed how it might work but I think there's an opportunity to do it and get the best out of our cricketers.''

This policy would add weight to the message Border delivered to Australia's next best group of players in his temporary role as coach of Australia A. It plays the struggling West Indies in a four-day match, beginning in Hobart on Saturday.

While there has been uncertainty in the past about the profile and status of Australia A, Border said the selectors were simply picking those next in line on form and potential.

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