Clarke, Beer back test match for west indies

Sydney, March 14: Injured Australia captain Michael Clarke will be come fit to play the first Test cricket against the West Indies, selectors said as they named a squad that saw the return of spin bowler Michael Beer.

Clarke was ruled out of the one-day series in the Caribbean they starts on 16-03-2012 after injuring his hamstring in a tri-series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.But after intense get the treatment, he was included in the 16-man Test Australia squad.It is anticipated Michael Clarke will be fully recovered and take his place as captain for the 1st Test match in Barbados beginning on Saturday April 7-2012, said national selector John Inverarity.

Shane Watson and James Pattinson were both was come backed after their injury-marred Australian summers but Shaun Marsh remains on the outer after not in fit form.The biggest surprise was return of Beer, who is yet add to his one Test against England in January last year.He joins a list that includes spinner Nathan Lyon, batting new all rounder Peter Forrest and 2 wicketkeepers, Brad Haddin and Matthew Wade.

The selection committee believes the inclusion of 5 fast bowlers, 2 spinners and 2 wicket-keepers will provide main flexibility, said Inverarity.He added that it would also provide cover for any injuries may occur in a presently not easily accessible by replacement or standby players.Teenage bowler Patrick Cummins remains unavailable due to fitness, having missed the entire Australian summer with a foot injury.

Following from the Barbados Test, Australia play a 2nd Test at Port of Spain in Trinidad and a 3rd at Roseau, Dominica.

Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Michael Beer, Ed Cowan, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

Australia aim to continue winning in the West Indies tour

SYDNEY: Australia’s one-day side had barely 12 hours to celebrate their Tri-series victory before desertion for the Caribbean on Friday and stand-in captain Shane Watson conceded there be some tired players in his squad.

The hosts triumph win by 16 runs in Adelaide on Thursday to win the final series against Sri Lanka 2-1 and take down the curtain on an Australian summer of international cricket that has continuous almost unabated since December 1.There's no doubt there are a few guys that have played the full summer who are going to be a little bit tired but in the end, that's part and parcel of playing international cricket,"Shane Watson Watson told newspapers at Sydney Airport.

You are playing just about all year round, and you've got to stumble on ways to be able to freshen up whenever you probably can and to be able to keep doing all you can to stay as fresh as you can to be able to perform."All rounder Watson will captain the side for the 5-match one-day series, 2 T20, 3 test matches. On first match star the next Friday. St Vincent as Michael Clarke recuperates from a left hamstring injury.

Australia only have to win or tie just one of the matches to be sure of retain the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings but Watson said their ambition were much higher than that after a very well performance against Sri Lanka on Thursday. We need to keep up that standard because if we do bowling and field like that we're going to win just on all game that we play, he said. I think we really set a normal last night that we need to maintain no matter what and I truly believe that we can do it.

It's a challenge to be proficient to continue to get up like that all single game but we are playing for our country, so there's no excuse. Another injury concern is fast bowler James Pattinson, who traveled with the team but is suffer from a strained buttock muscle. It’s big to be able to see a fast with a bit of mongrel about him and has the skills to rear it up," Watson added.

Ponting is Elephant in the Room, Sayed Chris Cairns

Sydney: earlier New Zealand Captain Chris Cairns called Australian big Ricky Ponting the elephant in the room' and said Cricket Australia (CA) requests to end his 16-year Test career.The famous all-rounder feels that Ponting's retreat is the best way forward for Australian cricket.

I don't think you can have two years averaging 27 as a No.3. I think it's his time. And when you look at the like of Mark Taylor, [Ian] Healy, Mark Waugh - they be told it was their time. And there's an elephant in the room at the second in Ricky Ponting that nobody is really address,' Cairns was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning bearer of news.

Cairns feel Ponting should retire after the second Test aligned with New Zealand in Hobart.Don't get me wrong, I've got the maximum respect for Ricky Ponting but there's a time and a place. And for me, his time and rest is Hobart in the second Test against New Zealand. That's to say, 'Thanks very much',' he said

Carins said Australian selectors needed to build the hard call on the soon-to-be 37-year-old.Australia for me was an unbending cricket nation, but I've felt there's been decision they make that have been compromise (in) the last couple of years. They've permitted Ricky to keep going since of his stature in the game and who he is,' Cairns said.

'But why must he have to make the call? At the end of the day, for me, Australia has all the time been about the team and what's best. He is following Bradman, Australia's greatest batsman, so they're organization it. But I just think it's an elephant in the room. I really do. Australia has got upgrading to do,' he said.