Ponting backs Hughes to replace Katich

Anderson heads home, fans campaign for Warne comeback.

SYDNEY: Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Phillip Hughes as the most likely replacement for Simon Katich for next week’s third Ashes Test in Perth.

Opener Katich has an Achilles injury and has been ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series. But Ponting admitted no decisions have yet been made about the squad for the next Test, which starts on December 16.

“Hughes is the first one that comes to mind. I’d be surprised if it’s not him that comes in,” said Ponting. “We know what his international record is like. He’s got a few runs under his belt so he’s probably the first cab off the rank.”

Bring back Warne

Dismayed Australian cricket fans have launched a campaign to bring back spin bowling master Shane Warne, four years after his retirement, after the team’s thrashing by England in the second Ashes Test.

Australia’s defeat in the second Test prompted fears that the national team is hitting lows not seen since the 1980s. A Brisbane cricket fan Ross Heywood has established a website devoted to raising funds to entice the 41-year-old to make himself available for the rest of the series. “To bring back the Ashes, we need Warne,” states bringbackwarne.com which has raised over $3,000 for its Ashes ‘Rescue Fund’ since Tuesday. Meanwhile, Warne labelled calls for his return to Test cricket in a bid to boost Australia’s flagging Ashes hope as “very flattering”

Anderson expected back

James Anderson cut short his celebrations to head home where he will be attending the birth of his second child. England coach Andy Flower confirmed Anderson’s departure as the rest of the squad arrived in Melbourne ahead of the team’s three-day warm-up match against Victoria. Flower added that the fast bowler is expected to arrive back in Australia ahead of the Perth Test.

“He left last night, and he’ll be back a few days before the Perth Test,” said Flower.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2010.