da brwin： Australia’s Test players have promised to shut out emotion surroundingthe one-day squad revamp as they attempt to clinch a series victory inCape Town.
AAP05-Mar-2002Australia’s Test players have promised to shut out emotion surroundingthe one-day squad revamp as they attempt to clinch a series victory inCape Town.The second Test, starting on Friday, has an obvious storyline with ShaneWarne playing his 100th Test and coming up against his favouritebatsman, the recalled Daryll Cullinan.But Mark Waugh’s performance will also attract plenty of attention as heenters the last phase of his international career.He’s must prove to selectors he has some years left at Test level afterbeing dumped from the one-day squad yesterday.Brother Steve has been running the same campaign since he was axed fromthe one-day team three weeks ago, with a score of 32 against SouthAfrica in his only Test knock since.But the plight of the 36-year-old Waughs won’t be discussed in thedressing rooms with the team determined to seal back-to-back series winsover the Proteas this summer.”We had a little bit of a talk when Mark found out he wasn’t in thesquad and decided that’s where it finished, there would be no more talkabout the one-day stuff until it comes around,” said batsman RickyPonting, the new one-day captain.”It was (emotional) because you spend so much time with them and theyend up being really good mates of yours. When they get left out you dofeel for them.”I’ve been great mates with Steve and Mark for the last six or sevenyears. Now for me not to be playing in one form of the game with eitherof those guys is a bit difficult … but life goes on and you’ve got toget on with things.”The Waughs have told their teammates they won’t dwell on their one-daysackings, and the Test players insist they have had minimal discussionabout the changes since arriving in South Africa.However, the selectors’ actions are a clear sign to the twins,particularly Mark, that their days as automatic selections are over andthey must perform or be replaced if suitable successors are found.Former team leaders Mark Taylor and Ian Healy faced the same pressureswhen they were ushered out of one-day cricket during the Ashes tour in1997.Taylor played another 23 Tests before retiring, averaging 46.65 with thebat in that time, while Healy played 31 Tests before receiving a tap onthe shoulder to make way for explosive wicketkeeper-batsman AdamGilchrist.But both Healy and Taylor were younger than the Waughs when they retiredfrom all international cricket, leaving a question over how long theWaughs can remain driving forces in the Australian team.Both have appeared relaxed on the South African tour, with Markinsisting there was no point worrying about his one-day future becausethe decision was out of his hands.Meanwhile, Warne’s future in both forms of the game seems certain forthe immediate future after national selector Trevor Hohns gave somebacking to the leg-spinner.Warne will enter his 100th Test ranked the second-highest wicket-takerin the game, itching for another shot at Cullinan.The Victorian has bamboozled the 35-year-old in the past but Cullinanhasn’t backed away from another confrontation since his 86 for SouthAfrica A against Australia last Friday.Cullinan was among four changes to the Proteas, included along withdebutant quick Dewald Pretorius and left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adamswhile captain Shaun Pollock is listed to return from a side strain.Pollock will bowl at full speed in the nets on Wednesday with a finaldecision on his fitness on Thursday.