Cricket: Cowan to open for Australia in first Test

Hosts hoping for opener to give solidity to top-order against India.

MELBOURNE:

Australia look set to go in against India with a revamped top order for the Boxing Day Test, with opener Ed Cowan named to the team alongside big-hitter David Warner and Shaun Marsh.

In-form newcomer Cowan was one of three additions to a 13-man Australia squad named last week for the Test beginning tomorrow, after batsmen Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja were dumped.

The two other additions – Marsh and fast-bowler Ben Hilfenhaus – also made the final eleven but all-rounder Daniel Christian failed to make the cut.

“I’m confident we’ve got the best eleven to win this Test in these conditions,” said captain Michael Clarke. “I can use Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and myself to bowl a few overs. Warner can also bowl a few leg-spinners.”

Australia are hoping that right-handed Cowan will add some ballast to the top order. The 29-year-old hit 109 for the Chairman’s XI against India along with two centuries in this season’s Sheffield Shield and one for Australia ‘A’ against the touring New Zealanders.

‘Determined to change India’s away reputation’

Meanwhile, India captain MS Dhoni’s goal is to have the tourists shake off their image as home-track bullies as he bids to lead his team to a breakthrough series win in Australia.

While scratching out tour wins over lowly Bangladesh and New Zealand, India’s home dominance has been tempered by drawn away series with Sri Lanka and South Africa over the past two years.

“Consistently performing well on overseas tours is something we are aiming for and as captain I see it as a challenge,” said Dhoni. “We have been poor on tours this year so we need to prepare in a fashion that will provide us with the best chance of winning the series.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2011.