Out of favour Australian batsman Simon Katich backs Cowan as worthy successor

"Ed Cowan is definitely ready for Test cricket. He''s made a lot of runs this year, he deserves his chance, and he''s got a big future ahead of him,'''' The Age quoted Katich, as saying.

His statement comes after he was axed from the Cricket Australia (CA)''s list of 25 contracted players for the 2011-12 period.

Katich said he does not have any grudges against selectors over the move despite averaging over 50 after making a comeback to the Australian Test squad in 2007

"I''ve spoken about my international career recently, a lot has happened in the past five months, but I understand the selectors are probably going in a different direction,'''' Katich said.

''''I''m fortunate that in the last few years I got back in the Test team. I''ve got to look at it positively. I''ve played 56 Tests instead of being stuck on 23 so I will always be grateful for that,” he added.

"There are lots of people worse off than me in the world. As much as it was disappointing to know that I probably wouldn''t play Test cricket again, I''ve dealt with that, and I''ll play cricket for whoever wants me for as long as I can," Katich said.

Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill renew old rivalry during Big Bash League

The real excitement will be generated by the outcome of who wins the showdown between the Melbourne Stars’ Warne and Sydney Sixers MacGill.

MacGill lived in Warne’s shadow for most of his career but still took 208 Test wickets.

“Everything new is always exciting and that’s what this competition is about,” Shane Warne told reporters on Monday.

MacGill has so far outshone Warne in this year’s Big Bash tournament, taking 2-21 against Brisbane in his first match, The Age reports.

Warne went wicketless in his first game, but wowed the television audience last week when he talked them through his plan to dismiss Brisbane’s Brendon McCullum - and did it next ball.

“I didn’t realise that I missed it so much. I’m really enjoying making batsmen feel small,” MacGill told reporters.

Both teams have 1-1 records and will be desperate to secure victory to keep pace with competition leaders Hobart Hurricanes and the Sydney Thunder.

“I don’t know if it’s a one-on-one battle (between myself and MacGill). I think at the moment both sides are trying to get some form up,” Warne said

Series against India biggest test for Michael Clarke as skipper

Australia has chosen to tackle India in the Boxing Day Test without an all- rounder, which means the team would rely on its formidable batting line-up.

Clarke successfully led the Australian side, which beat Sri Lanka, and drew the series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Clarke’s achievements are praiseworthy especially when his team has, at times, collapsed during the course of the game, only to make a stunning comeback, the Herald Sun reports.

Australian cricket fans had never expected the team to return from Sri Lanka and South Africa without dropping a series, but Clarke has embarked on his captaincy stint with great conviction, and devised a strategy of having a different competent bowler during each session of the Test to take on the opponents, the paper said.

He is a part of the selection panel that chose this team so there is no indication that he is dissatisfied with the squad hand-picked for the series.

Clarke’s side would certainly feel that they have hit a bull’s eye if they succeed in wrapping up India’s top order but it would be only the first shot of the month- long battle, the paper added.

Australia’s bowling attack would be instrumental in helping the team clinch victory against India.

But Australia’s defeat in the series would be attributed to playing injured or fatigued fast bowlers for too long, the paper said.

It will not be surprising if no fast bowler from either side plays all four Tests in the month –long-series, which certainly requires greater degree of fitness than Twenty 20 or One day international format of the game, it concluded.

MacGill eager to play in Indian Premier League

The 40-year-old MacGill, who had long been thought of as a specialist of the longer form of the game, made a successful comeback with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, prompting him to try his luck in the Indian T20 league.

"I really don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but I'm playing in the BBL because my kids thought I was getting old.

I'm proving to them that I can still cut it with the young blokes," MacGill was quoted as saying by 'AAP'.

MacGill, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2008, played some warm-up games with Sydney University and said once he could prove that his body was up to it, the decision to apply was an easy one.

"I just wanted to see if I could keep together physically and once I ticked that box I thought 'hey, maybe it's worth my while'.

Having played a couple of Twenty20 games now, I know I can do it. 

I don't get too sore. I know I can run around enough. It's worth a go," he said.

Meanwhile, legendary spinner Shane Warne, who had been a key figure for the Rajasthan Royals since the inception of the IPL in 2008 also backed MacGill's decision.