Shaun Tait's successful NatWest Series rehabilitation is already raising the question of whether his body could withstand a return to Test, and specifically Ashes, cricket too. Ricky Ponting has had to manage the 27-year-old in two and even.
One-over spells since Tait was recalled for his first one-day internationals in 16 months - at Old Trafford and the The Oval.
That has not stopped the Australia captain acknowledging the temptation to try to persuade the injury-plagued fast bowler to consider Tests again, even though he has officially retired from first-class cricket.
"I will be talking to him about that, yeah," he told The Australian. "I'm sure a few of our boys will be having a whisper in his ear over the next few weeks. I'm sure a few of our boys will be having a whisper in his ear over the next few weeks."
Tait took three for 28 in Manchester, where England wrapped up the series with a third successive win despite a collapse of six wickets for 18, and then took one for 23 in London as Australia beat their hosts by 78 runs to stave off the threat of a 5-0 whitewash.
Australia coach Tim Nielsen was more equivocal on the subject, however, hinting Tait himself may be reluctant to be pressed back into five-day service. I don't know if he wants to - and he has been pretty honest and open about that as well," he said.
From a coaching or a preparation perspective, the only problem I have with that - unless the schedule works out really well for him - is he can have quite big gaps between games and does not get the volume of bowling he needs to keep on going. "But while he is fresh, he needs to train harder and find ways of training well in between games."
0 comments:
Post a Comment