T20: McKay not taking his place for granted

Fast-bowler returns from injury but wary of competition.

It is not yet clear whether Clint McKay would be included in Australia’s group matches in the World Twenty20 series despite being one of the fastest to reach 50 One-Day International (ODI) wickets earlier this year.

Recovering from a hamstring injury, McKay played in the warm-up match against New Zealand in Colombo yesterday where he took two for 14 in three overs. However, he would have a tough time ensuring his place in the team for the group matches with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in good form and spinners like Brad Hogg well up to the conditions in Sri Lanka.

“I’d like to think I’d get in the best attack,” said McKay. “If I don’t, well so be it. I’ll just keep training and making sure that if I do get my turn, I’ll be ready to go.”

In March, he joined Waqar Younis and Shane Bond in the list of taking the eighth fastest 50th ODI wicket.

Chokes are history: De Villiers

Meanwhile, South Africa captain AB de Villiers said his team will refrain from repeating mistakes.

“We’ve choked in the past and we know that,” said De Villiers. “But I would like to emphasise that it is the past. We come in with a new look in this team. We will approach this tournament differently and would like to win the pressure situations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2012.