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NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Australia's Marsh to test back injury in Twenty/20


Australian batsman Shaun Marsh will test his fitness in a Twenty20 match on Thursday evening and is confident he will be ready to go for next week's opening test against India.

The 28-year-old lefthander, who has been struggling with a debilitating lower back injury, was named in Australia's squad for the Boxing Day test on Wednesday with uncapped all rounder Dan Christian included as back-up.

After taking part in a three-day training camp for Australia's batsmen, Marsh said his back had improved considerably and should allow him to play his first test on home soil at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next Monday.

"I'm hitting the ball well, I've had a really good two or three days and I feel that I haven't lost too much of my touch since South Africa and playing tonight will give me a bit more indication of where I'm at," he told reporters on Thursday.

"I'm confident that if I can get through tonight and, with what I've done over the last (few) days, that I will be right and ready to go."

Marsh, who made his test debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year and injured himself in his third test against South Africa last month, will turn out for the Perth Scorchers against the Melbourne Renegades at the Etihad Stadium later on Thursday.

Pencilled in to replace dropped Usman Khawaja at number three in the batting order should he prove his fitness, the Western Australian said it would fulfill a lifelong ambition to play in such an iconic test match.

"To play in front of 75,000 plus fans on Monday is certainly going to be a dream of mine," said Marsh, whose father