Cricketers' injuries take a toll on Australian line-up in Durban

Sydney, Mar 5 (ANI): With fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus doubtful to participate in the second cricket Test against South Africa commencing from March 6, Australia has needed to shore up its fast-bowling stocks by calling up yet another new boy to their squad.

Australian Cricket Team led by Ricky Ponting began their tour of South Africa without injured Test pace regulars Stuart Clark and Brett Lee. Fast-bowling all-rounder Shane Watson was also on the sick list.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mitchell Johnson was seen as the best choice for a match starter, followed by Siddle and Hilfenhaus, who were the fourth and fifth in the pecking order and Doug Bollinger sixth.

With Brett Geeves a late cover for the struggling Bollinger, Australia are down to their seventh- and eight-choice quicks.

McDonald's bowling has been decent in his first two Tests, but he has struggled with the bat.

Since Johnson's would not be able to serve the Durban matches with his exceptional batting skills, the temptation will be to drop McDonald and play a fourth specialist bowler Bryce McGain.

Rookie Australian opener Phillip Hughes faced rants from his competitor Proteas paceman Morne Morkel in his Test debut at Johannesburg, but is still unwilling to back down.

Sydney Morning Herald quoted him as saying, "The end of day three, I was 36 not out at the end of the day's play, and a few blokes came over and obviously there was a lot of words said. They came very hard in that last session. I was batting with Simon Katich and then Ricky Ponting came out, and it was great batting with those two."

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland and his South African counterpart, Gerald Majola, have discussed capitalising on the rivalry between the world No.1 and No.2 nations by playing every year.

The three-year rotation for Tests will probably continue but there are plans for one-day and Twenty20 series to be staged annually. Also discussed was the possibility of a five-Test series. (ANI)