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| Monday, 2 February 2004 |
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Lankan tour : McGrath gives ODIs a miss Injured Australian bowling spearhead Glenn McGrath has ruled out playing the one-day tournament in Sri Lanka, saying he is concentrating on being fit for the Test series. Australia arrives in Sri Lanka for the one-day tournament on February 14, with the first game scheduled for February 20. The first Test in Galle does not start until March 8, giving McGrath time to get his ankle 100 per cent right. "The only thing I'm concentrating on is playing at least one four-day match before the Sri Lanka Test tour," McGrath said. "My goal is to be fit for the Test tour and that's all I'm aiming at. "The one-dayers are out of the equation because by the time the team leaves, I may have played only one game - if any. "At the moment, I'm really not aiming for any particular game and the next week will tell when I will be able to make it back. I want at least two bowls during the week to give me a great idea of where I'm at." Despite reports he will make his comeback the same week as Shane Warne's drug suspension ends, McGrath said he had not set a definitive date on a return. McGrath said there was a chance he would play for the NSW Second XI against Tasmania Second XI on Tuesday week, but that date is far from locked in. However, McGrath has logged a lot more time in the nets to give him confidence his injured ankle is close to being ready for a comeback to first-class cricket. Last Wednesday, McGrath bowled five overs at 75 per cent pace and concedes there is still work to be done. "It felt a lot better last Wednesday - it felt really good," he said. "But the ankle still needs more work getting it used to bowling again. We just have to get the tendons, the ligaments and the joints used to the extra work. "I really think it still needs another week or two to get the confidence back." It was McGrath's second major net session, but last week was the first time he had come off his long run and the first time he had hit the crease hard since the operation in October. "The five overs I bowled I was really happy with and now it's all about building it up ... we're getting closer all the time," McGrath said. "At the moment, I'm about 75 per cent right and I'm feeling a lot happier. "I'll have another bowl and a few next week. How it pulls up after the second and third bowl will be the big thing. "Before I play a match, I'd like to have a five- or six-over spell and an hour break and come back and bowl another five or six overs in the nets at full pace and if I can do that, then I'll be ready." But because he has yet to fully test himself, he is reluctant to put a firm date on his comeback. [The Sunday Telegraph] |
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